Video: Protest march of the families of the abductees/Photo: The headquarters of the families of the abductees
For the first time since the October 7 terrorist attacks, a senior representative of the Qatari regime met a family of Israeli abductees, it was announced Friday. Qatar plays a central role in the international talks for the release of the hostages from Hamas captivity. The terrorist organization abducted more than 200 people from Israeli territory into the Gaza Strip.
The meeting was held between Qatar's ambassador to Washington, Mashaal al-Thani, and Avichai Brodech, whose wife Hagar and three children Ofri, Yuval and Uriah were abducted to Gaza. According to a press release from the International Initiative for the Release of Abductees, the meeting "took place in a positive and sensitive atmosphere," and Brodech thanked the Qatari representative for Doha's role in the efforts to free the hostages. "As a parent, father of three children held by Hamas in Gaza, I hope Qatar continues its efforts to immediately bring my wife and three children, and more than 30 children held hostage by Hamas, home," Brodech said, calling for the children to be released as soon as possible. "They have been held hostage for 20 days, every minute feels like hell," he stressed.
Avichai Brodech and U.S. Congressman Daniel Goldman/Official website, International Initiative for the Release of Abductees
Brodech also met with U.S. Senators and House members including Ralph Nader, Tom Cotton, John Fetterman, Chris Conn, Chuck Schumer and Jackie Rosen, and is expected to meet with others today in hopes of raising awareness about the return of the hostages.
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At this stage, more than 200 people abducted from Israel to the Gaza Strip are being held, including Israelis with dual citizenship and foreigners. So far, four abductees have been released, including two American citizens. A senior Israeli official told Walla two days ago that negotiations to release more hostages from Hamas in Gaza were at a crucial point. He said that if there was no progress in the coming days, Israel would advance to a ground operation in the Gaza Strip.
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