In video: Niva and Shei Wenkert, parents of Omar who was kidnapped to Gaza, in an interview for his weekend/still photo: Reuven Castro
The families of 136 abductees who are in captivity in the Gaza Strip have been waiting for 118 days.
In the last few days, the reports about a possible deal that will come to fruition for the release of the abductees are increasing, as each passing day is nerve-racking for the families.
Shai and Niva Vankert, the parents of 22-year-old Omer Vankert, who was kidnapped from the Nova party in Ra'i, call in an interview with Tal Shalu on the "Sophash Shalu" show on Vala Plus, for the immediate release of their son, who is sick with colitis, and the release of all the abductees. "Our dream is to return to being Anonymous family.
We have one task - to bring Omar home," said mother Niva.
Shay and Niva Vankert/Reuven Castro
Before their world fell upon them, Niva worked for many years as a social worker who worked with bereaved families.
Shay is independent in the world of wine and beer.
Since October 7th, Shay has not been in his business but has opened a new business called "Bringing Omar Home".
Omar has run a restaurant for the past five years.
He started as a waiter, advanced in positions and when he was offered to manage a restaurant of 40 employees, he was apprehensive.
"He told me how he would deal with salaries and management. I told him that we would help and support as much as we could," says father Shay.
"He really likes parties. He also has a party line. Everything was planned for the month of November."
Mother Niva added: "It was his time to taste the world and it was cut short by a violent and brutal act."
The last time the parents were in contact with Omar was at 07:40 on October 7, more than an hour since the surprise attack by Hamas began.
"We called him. Shai knew that Omar went to a party and didn't know where," Niva recalls in the interview.
"He had enough time to say that they were lying on the ground with their hands on their heads and that he would contact us when they got to Migunit. During the correspondence after arriving at Migunit, he wrote that there were shots fired. It made me anxious. Ten minutes passed and we didn't hear from him again."
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Omar was kidnapped to Gaza suffering from colitis, a chronic intestinal disease.
The parents Shai and Niva do not know if their son is indeed receiving treatment.
"We know he is alive, when he was suffering he was given paracetamol by his captors," said the parents.
"When Omar was medically balanced it was fine. But the complications are terrible and in a stressful situation everything explodes."
Most of the anger of the parents is directed at the Red Cross organization, as until now it is not clear whether the medicines that were transferred to Gaza reached the abductees.
"I met three times with the Red Cross," says Father Shay.
"The first time in Brussels, a month after the kidnapping, I was told that they were still studying the case and that they were an independent organization that acts according to its own considerations. Another month passed and they contacted us following a public audit. It was a formal meeting to fill out forms. We said we were here to transfer medicine. So for Is it to come and say that you made a connection? This is an organization that needs to be dismantled. In 'Money Time' it is a failure. It is an organization that does nothing. They entered Gaza to show only one side."
Great anger is directed towards the organization.
Netanyahu with the President of the Red Cross/Official website, Amos Ben Gershom/L.A.M
As mentioned, in recent days the reports about a possible deal that will come to fruition are increasing.
The Venkert family states that they hear most of the updates from the media or when they ask.
Meanwhile, parts of the coalition strongly oppose the proposed deal, which may include the release of heavy-duty terrorists, and not all families support "paying" that price either.
"I respect every person regardless of who they are, it is their full right to think that way," clarifies mother Niva.
"Resurgence will not happen in this country, trust will not return, if we leave people behind. We know that one of our basic values is that we do not leave wounded in the field. I expect my leaders to be able to assure me that 'never again'. You are abandoning my son."
Do you have faith in our leadership?
"It's a complex question, I'm making every effort to believe them."
Demonstrators block Ashdod port to prevent the transfer of humanitarian aid/official website, Mothers' March
Niva Shai Wenkert, parents of Omar Wenkert, January 10, 2024/Reuven Castro
Xi referred to the opposition within the coalition to the deal: "There is a minority that shouts and makes the noise, which unfortunately moves our leaders. I am not a political commentator, but the prime minister said that if there is a deal at the expense of the coalition, he would prefer the deal. The prime minister is in an emergency government. He can pass it. I know deals will go through. Netanyahu made sure to leave his legacy in Israel's legacy. He needs to correct the injustice that was done here on October 7."
To this, Niva added: "The legacy must not be a legacy of abandonment."
Another controversy is around the introduction of humanitarian aid to Gaza and the demonstrations that have been taking place in the last two weeks, including those of families of abductees, at the border crossings.
"I don't want to prevent humanitarian aid, but I can't understand how 10,000 trucks enter Gaza and we don't get anything. I know one thing: what won even in the Holocaust is the spirit, the people, the values. Hamas knows that. Get the hostages out alive. Imagine the joy that will be in the Kidnapped Square when everyone returns."
More on the same topic:
abducted
Benjamin Netanyahu
Hamas
the Red Cross
Gaza war
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