In Oswiecim, Poland, families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas issued a plea on Jan 27 for remembrance, denunciation of antisemitism, and the release of their relatives ahead of the commemoration of the liberation of the Nazi German Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp in 1945.
Survivors of Auschwitz were joined by global leaders to honor the liberation of the camp, established by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland during World War Two to exterminate European Jews in accordance with a racist ideology.
Hamas militants captured 253 hostages on Oct. 7, 2023, in an attack on Israeli communities that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 individuals. This led to a fierce Israeli response, causing extensive destruction in Gaza, under Hamas rule, and resulting in the deaths of over 47,000 Palestinians.
As part of a multi-phased ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, several hostages have been released this month, including Omer Lifshitz, whose mother was among those kidnapped from Nir Oz kibbutz. Omer Lifshitz emphasized the importance of preventing a recurrence of such tragedies, highlighting the need for awareness and education about past events to ensure a better future.
Yasmin Magal, a 26-year-old medical student discussed her cousin Omer Neutra, a 22-year-old American-Israeli soldier who was kidnapped and killed in Gaza, emphasizing the significance of remembering the past, securing the release of the remaining hostages, and providing proper burial for those who lost their lives, stressing the importance of never allowing such atrocities to be repeated.