Families of Hamas hostages share heartbreaking stories as war marks milestone: ‘She would solve everyone’s problems’
Hundreds of hostages are still being held captive by Hamas as the war reaches a grim milestone Tuesday — marking one month since the Iran-backed terrorists invaded Israel and slaughtered 1,400 people.
As the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) prepare to invade Gaza in an all-out assault to eradicate the bloodthirsty terror group and free the 240 hostages, the families of the kidnapped are left desperately praying for their safe return.
Optimistic that their families would be made whole again, several loved ones spoke with The Post about how their relatives enjoyed their daily lives in Israel before they were taken by Hamas fighters and their world was upended.
The hostages include a number-crunching matriarch and her three rambunctious children, a Maroon 5 fan serving in the IDF, a US-Israeli mental health teacher and her music-loving husband, and an Argentina-Israeli couple who had family visit for the holidays.
Hagar, Ofri, Yuval, and Uriah Brodutch
Hagar Brodutch and her children, Ofri, 10, Yuval, 8, and Uriah, 4, were kidnapped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, about 2 miles from Gaza, one of the hardest hit villages during the Oct. 7 rampage.
Distraught father Avihai Brodutch, 42, said his family was brutally snatched when he left them in their home’s safe room while he went out to help others during the attack.
He described his wife, 40, as a staple in the community — a finance whiz who would help her neighbors whenever they ran into trouble with banks or loan agencies.
“She was the kind of person who would solve everyone’s problems,” Avihai said. “She was in charge of the business center of the kibbutz.”
Hagar also loved to bake croissants and other French pastries for her family.
But the scent of freshly baked goods in Avihai’s home has now vanished, along with the sound of her guitar and the David Bowie and John Lennon soundtracks that Ofri loved to play.
Tuesdays would also be when young Yuval would turn on his XBox to play Minecraft with his friends, and when Uriah would track mud all over the house after playing with his toy tractors.
With a month passing by since his peaceful, everyday life was abruptly interrupted, Avihai teared up as he wished for their immediate release.
“I want the world to focus on at least letting the children and women out of there,” Avihai said. “Kids shouldn’t be a part of any conflict. Children shouldn’t be hostages.”
Roni Eshel
Roni Eshel, 19, is a rookie IDF soldier who enlisted after graduating high school — and quickly found a “Band of Sisters” while stationed at a base in Nahal Oz.
Her uncle, Elad Levy, 49, described his niece as a typical teenager who loved to be with her family and drive them around after getting her driver’s license.
Eshel is a big fan of Taylor Swift and Harry Styles — and was over the moon to see Maroon 5 last year with her family during their much-anticipated show in Israel.
Levy also described the teen as responsible and diligent, who was known in her neighborhood as the go-to babysitter parents would trust their kids with.
She brought those characteristics to the IDF, Levy said, as she often worked in the base’s security monitor station, watching rocket fire and violent demonstrations coming from Gaza.
During such times, Levy said his family would reach out to her, but she assured them every time that she was safe.
She even insisted she was safe in her last message to her family on Oct. 7, just before her base was attacked.
Levy called on his government to do everything it can to rescue his niece and the other hostages. He said he agrees that there cannot be any discussion of a ceasefire until the kidnapped are free.
“Something that bothers us is that a whole month has gone by, yet we haven’t really seen the condition of the hostages since then,” he said. “We shouldn’t be talking about sending more aid to Gaza until we know more about the hostages and the crisis they’re going through.”
Gadi and Judih Weinstein Haggai
US-Israel citizens Gadi and Judih Weinstein Haggai were on their usual morning walk outside Kibbutz Nir Oz when they were ambushed by Hamas terrorists, their family said
Gadi, 73, is a talented musician and chef, and his wife, Judih, 70, is a retired English teacher. Despite retiring, Judih continued to work in education, her niece Ofri Haggai said.
The beloved grandmother would often teach classes on mindfulness and meditation, specifically working with children to help them manage their stress caused by the constant rocket fire between Israel and neighboring Gaza.
Judih would likely be teaching another class now while Gadi would be practicing his array of instruments if not for the terrorist attack, which left them “badly wounded” after Hamas gunmen shot them, Ofri said.
They would also be enjoying their usual strolls around their kibbutz and finding ways to entertain their four kids and seven grandchildren.
“They both were wonderful, peaceful people,” Ofri said. “Theirs is a beautiful relationship.”
Luis Har and Clara Marman
Luis Norberto Har was hiding in his home’s safe room in Kibbutz Nir Yitzhak when he was abducted along with his partner, Clara Marman, 62, her siblings Fernando Marman and Gabriela Leimberg, and niece Mia Leimberg.
Har’s daughters, Rinat Har Sheleg and Natali Har, told reporters Monday in New York that they were in contact with their father just before he was taken by Hamas.
“They’re in,” he texted them after the terrorist broke in the morning of Oct. 7. The family’s phones were later tracked to a location in Gaza.
Har and his relatives are all Argentinian-Israeli dual citizens, with Mia, 18, visiting the kibbutz for the holiday weekend, according to the Times of Israel.
Maayan Sigal-Koren, Marman’s daughter, described her mother as “the warmest woman in the world,” noting that she worked as a kindergarten teacher for 30 years, according to the Bring Them Back organization, which advocates for the release of the hostages taken by Hamas.
Before being kidnapped, she would spend time looking after children in the kibbutz. Her sister, Gabriela, was the director of Eyal’s Farm, a ranch for autistic adults in Jerusalem.
“Things for the family will never be the same,” Har’s daughters told reporters in the Big Apple on Monday. “There’s no going back to the days before Oct. 7.”
