DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ American mother and daughter taken hostage by Hamas have been released, sources say
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Alex Marquardt Kaitlan Collins Oren Liebermann Michael Conte Sana Noor Haq | Alex Marquardt | Kaitlan Collins | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Hamas released two American hostages, Judith Tai Raanan and her 17-year-old daughter, Natali Raanan, on Friday after they abducted around 200 people from Israel in a deadly attack on October 7. They are being released on “humanitarian grounds” because the mother is in poor health, the same source said. US officials have not said whether they believe any of the American hostages are dead and have previously noted that all hostages are assumed alive. Amnesty International has said Israel’s “collective punishment” of Palestinian civilians for Hamas’ attack amounts to a war crime. “The families’ headquarters welcomes the release of hostages from Hamas captivity,” the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said in a statement to CNN.

Persons: Judith Tai Raanan, Natali, Daniel Hagari, Abu Obaida, Biden, ”, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Majid Al, Ansari, Joe Biden, “, “ Jill, Israel, Antony Blinken, Rishi Sunak Organizations: CNN, Israel Defense Forces, Brigades, Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, United Nations, Amnesty Locations: Israel, Gaza, Chicago, Nahal Oz, Qatar, ” Qatar, Israel’s, Mexico, Brazil, Thailand

☆ Photo released of 2 Americans — a mother and daughter — freed after being held hostage by Hamas for nearly 2 weeks
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-20 | by ( Sarah Gray | Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The Israeli government released the first photo of a mother and daughter freed Friday after Hamas held them hostage. Judith and Natalie Raanan, from suburban Chicago, were in Israel to celebrate the recent Jewish holidays. The first photo of Judith and Natalie Raanan — the mother and teenage daughter freed Friday after being held hostage by Hamas — was released by the Israeli government. WHEN DID HE SAY THISJudith and Natalie Raanan, from Evanston, Illinois, were in Israel to celebrate the recent Jewish holidays. Although Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called areas in the south "safe zones" earlier this week, Israeli military spokesman Nir Dinar said Friday: "There are no safe zones."

Persons: Judith, Natalie Raanan, —, Natalie Raanan —, Hamas —, Gal Hirsch, Benjamin Netanyahu's, JB Pritzker, Joe Biden, Daniel Hagari, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Nir Organizations: Service, Hamas, Illinois Gov, Health Ministry, Israel Locations: Chicago, Israel, Evanston , Illinois, Gaza, Egypt, Lebanon, Lebanese, Qatar, Rafah

☆ Elon Musk warned of Cybertruck headaches, consumers' debt woes, and a 'stormy' economic backdrop on Tesla's earnings call. Here are his 14 best quotes.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( Theron Mohamed | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Elon Musk tackled a wide range of topics during Tesla's third-quarter earnings call on Wednesday. The world's richest man and CEO of the electric-vehicle maker underscored the difficulties of scaling Cybertruck production, touted Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot over Boston Dynamics' mechanical dogs, and trumpeted his cost-cutting efforts, according to a transcript provided by AlphaSense/Sentieo. Tesla's Optimus robot appearing to do yoga. (Musk was describing Tesla's focus on cutting the cost of car parts by even a few cents.) Tesla is "not going to sink," says Elon Musk.

Persons: Elon Musk, Musk, —, Elon, Oz, Marie Antoinette, Tesla's, that's, Tesla, they've, You've Organizations: Service, Boston Dynamics, AlphaSense, General Motors, Chrysler, Getty, Silicon Valley Bank, Suisse — geez Locations: Silicon

Zinc's relative under-performance is down to a build-up of excess metal as the global market shifts from supply shortfall to widening surplus. It now thinks zinc supply will exceed usage by a hefty 248,000 tonnes with the surplus growing to 367,000 in 2024. Zinc market balance forecasts by the ILZSGSHIFT TO SURPLUSThe zinc market's shift to surplus after two years of supply deficit is down to weaker-than-expected demand and higher-than-expected production. European demand is expected to contract by 1.8% this year due to slowing activity in the construction sector, which accounts for around half of zinc demand in the form of galvanised steel. LME zinc price, stocks and cash-3s spreadNOW YOU SEE IT...

Persons: LME, Barbara Lewis Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, OZ Minerals, London Metal Exchange, Citi, Thomson Locations: Lawn Hill, Queensland, Europe, China, New Orleans, United States, Singapore, Malaysia's Port Klang

☆ Auction features items from ‘The Wizard of Oz,’ Jackie Kennedy, British royals
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-16 | by ( Alicia Powell | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

“They're very rare,” said David Lowenherz, the owner of Lion Heart Autographs, the collectors running this auction. “They are virtually unheard of in any kind of...private collection,” he said of the printed scores that were using during the production of the 1939 classic. The auction, the largest Lion Heart Autographs has held and due to run until Nov. 1, includes other memorabilia. A holiday card issued by the royal family in 1980 and signed by the Queen Mother shows her standing beside her daughters, Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret. Another item is a 1987 letter by Jackie Kennedy, wife of former President John F. Kennedy, on plans for Pennsylvania Avenue and signed, “affectionately, Jackie.”The auction also features a letter signed by Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, who founded the modern state of Israel in 1948.

Persons: Oz, ”, Jackie Kennedy, Queen Mother, Ray Bolger, They’re, “, David Lowenherz, Lion, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, John F, Kennedy, Jackie, Israel’s, David Ben, Gurion, Giuseppe Verdi, English, Anna Bishop, Claude Monet, Napoleon Bonaparte’s, Alicia Powell, Christina Anagnostopoulos, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Pennsylvania, Neapolitan Press, Thomson Locations: Oz, Israel, Italian, Russia

We knew we had to go to the safe room, but we weren’t worried because it happened all the time. They were whispering, “Mom, I’m afraid.” “Mom, I’m hungry.” “Mom, what are the bad guys doing here? We took a shirt and put it on my kids’ faces because I didn’t know. I didn’t want them to see bodies lying, and the kibbutz burned, and people they know lying in the streets. I live in Nir Oz my whole life and it was my worst nightmare that terrorist people will go in the kibbutz.

Persons: It’s, ”, Nir Oz, “ Ma, Where’s, Omer Organizations: Netflix

Roni Eshel, a 19-year-old Israel Defense Forces soldier, was stationed at a military base near the Gaza border when Hamas attacked last Saturday. Her father, Eyal Eshel, describes the wait for news as “hell.”“I don’t know what to do. I don’t know nothing,” Eyal Eshel said. She reported for military service two weeks after finishing school. She was three months into her second year of mandatory military service.

Persons: Roni Eshel, ” Eschel, Sharon, haven't, Eyal Eshel, ” Eyal Eshel, ”, Eshel, “, Eyal Eschel, “ I’m Organizations: Israel Defense Forces, Hamas, IDF Locations: Gaza, Tel Aviv, Israel, Nahal

☆ A week after their abduction, families of hostages in Gaza are still in the dark
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“All we have been told is that her phone is in Gaza,” Meirav Gonen, whose daughter Romi was kidnapped from the Supernova dance festival, told CNN. Across the street from where Moshe Barda and other family members were gathering, a much angrier protest was taking place on Friday. She told CNN that while she has been attending protests against the prime minister for years, this time feels different. If she is held with others, Moshe Barda said, she is likely to be taking care of everybody. Look at the picture, she is sitting on the motorcycle with her back straight … and she just saw her husband being murdered,” Moshe Barda said.

Persons: Adina Moshe’s, Nir, Moshe, ”, Einav Moshe Barda, Moshe Barda, Meirav Gonen, Romi, “, Gonen, ” Gonen, you’re, Ivana Kottasová, Benjamin Netanyahu, Daphna Cohen, towardcs, CNN Israel, Netanyahu, Benny Gantz, Gal Hirsch, Hirsch, Israel, Yoav Gallant, Israel Katz, Mark Regev, ” Moshe Barda Organizations: Tel, Tel Aviv CNN, CNN, Israel Defense Forces, ”, Palestinian, Netanyahu’s, IDF, Energy, UNICEF, Hamas Locations: Tel Aviv, Gaza, HaKirya, Israel’s, IDF, Israel, Qatar

Israel, in response, ordered a “complete siege” of Gaza, including cutting off food, water and fuel, while unleashing its heaviest ever airstrikes on the blockaded enclave. At least 2,215 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza from Israeli strikes, the Palestinian Ministry of Health said Saturday. A hospital in Gaza had to use ice cream trucks as makeshift morgues because of the growing number of bodies. His five family members – four cousins and his aunt – stopped responding to the family’s WhatsApp group at some point. With the situation in Israel escalating, Greenberg said, he managed to book a flight to Rome the next morning.

Persons: “ It’s, Aref, “, ”, ” Dori Roberts, … It’s, ” Roberts, It’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, who’s, –, …, it’s, Yahia Abuhashem, Abuhashem, haven’t, ” Abuhashem, “ You’re, “ That’s, ’ Doron Katz Asher, Dori Roberts Raz Asher, Dori Roberts, Asher, Roberts, Efrat Katz, Doron Katz Asher, Raz, Nir Oz, ’, Jason Greenberg, Carmela Dan, Jason Greenberg Dan, ” Greenberg, Greenberg, that’s Organizations: CNN, Amro, ”, Israel Defense Forces, Palestinian Ministry of Health, Communication Locations: Columbus , Ohio, Gaza, Aref Abou, Austin , Texas, Israel, United States, Ohio, Abou, American, Al, Gaza City, ” Abou, Chicago, Austin, Aviv, Massachusetts, Tel Aviv, “, Rome

☆ Retired Israeli general who rescued his family under siege from Hamas is being compared on social media to Liam Neeson's character in 'Taken'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-14 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

On the way, Tibon helped kill Hamas militants and then fought his way onto the kibbutz to save his family. AdvertisementAdvertisementA former Israeli general's rescue of his son's family from Hamas fighters attacking their kibbutz is being compared to Liam Neeson in "Taken" on social media. Noam puts them in his car, and Amir's mother then took the wounded soldiers to the hospital. He's with these soldiers," Amir told his wife. Noam had joined up with a cohort of Israeli soldiers sent to liberate the kibbutz.

Persons: Noam Tibon, Liam Neeson's, Tibon, —, Liam Neeson, Amir Tibon, Noam, Amir, Galia, Saba, Bryan Mills, Mills, Miri, Amir texted, Israel Ziv, It's, Israel Organizations: Service, NBC Nightly, Hamas, New, New Jersey Turnpike, Street Journal Locations: Israeli, Nahal Oz, Gaza, Tel Aviv, Carmel, Sderot, Hamas, New Jersey, Israel

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) — Judith Raanan and her teenage daughter, Natalie Raanan, were excited to travel to Israel to celebrate a relative's 85th birthday and the Jewish holiday season, according to their rabbi. The pair had been sending updates as the trip progressed and were enjoying “this really special mom and daughter time together," Meir Hecht said. The family hasn't heard from either mother or daughter since a week ago, after Hamas launched an unprecedented surprise attack. “We received this terrible news that Judith and her daughter Natalie are missing and apparently were most likely taken as hostages to Gaza,” Hecht said. Of your resilience, your hope, your love, your generosity, your faith and strength," Yehudis Hecht said.

Persons: — Judith Raanan, Natalie Raanan, Meir Hecht, hasn't, “, Judith, Natalie, ” Hecht, Avi Zamir, ” Zamir, Natalie Raanan's, Sigal Zamir, ”, Judith Raanan, Yehudis Hecht, “ Judith, we're, ” ___ Savage Organizations: Hamas, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: EVANSTON, Ill, Israel, Chicago, Gaza, Nahal Oz, Evanston

The shoes from the film were stolen in 2005 from the Judy Garland Museum in the actress' hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota, and recovered in 2018 by the FBI. Political Cartoons View All 1209 ImagesGarland wore several pairs of ruby slippers during filming of the classic 1939 musical, but only four authentic pairs are known to remain. The plea agreement was “fulsomely negotiated” between DeKrey and federal prosecutor Matt Greenley and would lay out the “factual basis” for his client's guilty plea, DeKrey said. The ruby slippers were key props in the 1939 movie. The Judy Garland Museum, which opened in 1975 in the house where she lived, says it has the world’s largest collection of Garland and Wizard of Oz memorabilia.

Persons: Judy Garland, Oz ”, Terry Jon Martin, Martin, Dane DeKrey, Terry, ” DeKrey, Garland, “ fulsomely, Matt Greenley, DeKrey, Patrick Schiltz, Schiltz, Michael Shaw, Dorothy, Frances Gumm Organizations: Judy Garland Museum, FBI, District, Twin, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Smithsonian Museum of Locations: MINNEAPOLIS, Grand Rapids , Minnesota, Grand Rapids, Minneapolis, DeKrey, Minnesota, Duluth, Twin Cities, Hollywood, Arizona, Kansas, sequins, Los Angeles

☆ I've seen the worst horrors of Ukraine, Bosnia, and ISIS. I never thought I'd see them come to Israel, my home.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Itai Anghel is a veteran war correspondent with the Israeli current affairs show 'Uvda.' In my time as a war correspondent, I've covered so many atrocities and genocides: Bosnia, Bucha in Ukraine, and ISIS. Itai Anghel of @Uvda_tweet, a veteran war correspondent, was the first journalist to visit kibbutz Nir Oz in Israel after Saturday's attacks. pic.twitter.com/ZQOldmEKs4 — Joshua Zitser (@mrjoshz) October 12, 2023Yesterday, I visited a kibbutz, Nir Oz. AdvertisementAdvertisementAround a quarter of the people of Nir Oz were assassinated, kidnapped, or injured in a very severe way.

Persons: Nir Oz, —, Itai Anghel, It's, I've, ZQOldmEKs4, Joshua Zitser, Bloodstains Organizations: ISIS, Service Locations: Ukraine, Bosnia, Bucha, Israel

☆ This woman held off Hamas with a vacuum cleaner and a rolling pin
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( Tara Subramaniam | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —An Israeli woman and her daughter survived Hamas’ 12-hour siege of their kibbutz by barricading themselves into a safe room using a vacuum cleaner and a rolling pin. But then I remembered I had a rolling stick and I took that and then I took my Dyson vacuum,” Lahav said. And I was just tying these things to the door,” Lahav said. We thought we were just going to die and they kept banging the door trying to open. “It was so scary,” Lahav told CNN.

Persons: barricading, Irit, Nir, CNN’s Erin Burnett, we’re, Lahav feverishly, ” Lahav, ”, Lahav, “, Irit Lahav, ‘, Nir Oz, CNN ‘, revelers, Rafael Zimerman, Zimerman, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, Ben Natan, Natan, ” Natan Organizations: CNN, Jewish Agency for Israel, Nova Locations: Israeli, Gaza, Israel

☆ In Israel, one woman still searching for news of six missing family members
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Members of her close extended family were at their homes in the Nir Oz kibbutz, near the Gaza border. Zailer started texting her family - her aunt, uncle, cousin, cousin's husband and their two small children - to see what was happening. Nir Oz is one of the places attacked by Hamas fighters on Saturday morning. Once they had taken back Nir Oz, the Israeli military went through the houses to look for survivors - but none of Zailer's family has appeared. "Time is rushing," said Zailer, who has her own baby close in age to her cousin's.

Persons: Amir Cohen, Zailer, Nir, cousin's, Nir Oz, Thomas Holdstock, Rosalba O'Brien, Cynthia Osterman Organizations: Gaza, REUTERS, Tel, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Ashkelon, Israel, Tel Aviv, Gaza, Gdansk

☆ Illinois Mother and Daughter Visiting Israel Feared to Be Among Hostages
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-11 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Family members of Judith Raanan and her teenage daughter Natalie believe the two were taken hostage when Hamas militants attacked Nahal Oz, a kibbutz close to Gaza where they were visiting friends and family, said Meir Hecht, a rabbi at Chabad of Evanston, where Judith is a congregant. “The family though is quite frustrated by the fact that they don’t even have any confirmation of the whereabouts of Judith and Natalie, and the information coming out is just so slow,” Hecht said. Both are dual-citizens of the U.S. and Israel, he said.

Persons: Judith Raanan, Natalie, Nahal Oz, Meir Hecht, Judith, ” Hecht Locations: Gaza, Chabad, Evanston, Israel

The Long Wait for Help as Massacres Unfolded in Israel It took most of a day for Israeli soldiers to arrive as people tried to hide from Hamas terrorists on Saturday. Around 6:30 a.m. A group of students in Nir Oz went into shelters. 6:31 a.m. Israeli response The Israeli military’s response to the rockets was immediate, but it said nothing of a ground invasion. 7:40 a.m. Israeli response The Israeli military reported that Hamas militants had crossed the border and urged civilians to stay in their homes. 2 hours after attacks began 8:23 a.m. Israeli response Israel declared a state of alert for war.

Persons: Nir Oz, ”, “, ” Amit Man, texted, paragliders, concertgoers, Shirley Okev, Sarit Kurtzman, Yonatan Kurtzman, Arie Itzik, Itzik, Almog, ” Amit Man texted, festivalgoer Noa Kalash, Maor Benezri, Sahar, Sahar Kalderon, Erez, “ They’re, Yarden, WhatsApp, Shiri, Bibas, —, Hatem Ali, Yoav Gallant, Israel, Lahav, “ I’m, ” Vivian Silver, Yonatan Zeigen, Benjamin Netanyahu, Man, “ It’s, Tsafrir, ” “, Irit Lahav, Nir, Lotus Lahav, Lahav’s, Mika Atiia, Kfar, Okev, Azza, Nova Festival ISRAEL Nir Oz, It’s, I’m, ” Mr Organizations: Kfar, Attackers, Kfar Azza Residents, Commandos, Hamas, Ben, Gurion University, Palestinian, Israel’s, The New York Times, Nova Festival ISRAEL Locations: Israel, Gaza, Kfar Azza, Alumim, Sderot Be’eri, Sderot, Gaya, Nahal Oz, Kalderon, Be’eri, Israeli, Azza Nahal, GAZA, ISRAEL, EGYPT, Nova

☆ Families of Israelis kidnapped by Hamas are pleading for their release and say they have no idea how their relatives are doing
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Reed Alexander | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Insider spoke to family members of those believed to be kidnapped to understand what happens now. He added that the American Jewish Committee's offices in Jerusalem and the US were actively "responding when we receive calls from family members" about missing loved ones. "We started getting WhatsApp messages from family members that Hamas was in the kibbutz," Onn said. But, as for those who were taken, Onn said the family has to hold on to hope during an excruciating time. A plea from loved onesInformation about missing loved ones has been hard to come by, people in Israel told Insider on Sunday and Monday.

Persons: —, Jonathan Conricus, Nir Oz, Abbey, Onn, That's, it's, Ted Deutch, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Kenneth Quinn, who's, Quinn, Nahar, Adrienne Neta, Biden, Neta, Rubi Chen, Itay, Chen, Lester Holt, John Kirby, Kirby, Shelly Shem Tov, Omer, Jake Tapper, Shem Tov, Tapper, she'd, Reed Alexander Organizations: Service, Hamas, Israel Defense Forces, US State Department, Israel Defence Forces, American Jewish Committee, Democratic, Jewish, Israel, Reuters, State Department, NBC News, National Security Council, White, United, CNN Locations: Gaza, Israel, American, Herzliya, Tel Aviv, Florida, Jerusalem, Hamas, Washington, United States, Israeli

☆ An Israeli woman found out her grandmother was killed when Hamas posted a video of her body covered in blood on Facebook
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Joshua Zitser | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A woman found out her grandma had been killed by Hamas militants after seeing a video on Facebook. The video showed the grandmother lying on the floor, covered in blood, she said. AdvertisementAdvertisementAn Israeli woman found out her grandmother had been killed by Hamas militants when she saw a graphic video on her Facebook page. Mor Bayder, appearing on Israel's Channel 13, said the video showed her grandmother "lying there" with the floor covered in blood. Israeli officials say Hamas fighters have captured more than 100 hostages, who they believe were taken into Gaza as captives.

Persons: Nir Oz —, —, Mor Bayder, Bayder, Yoav Shimoni, Shimoni, Nir Oz Organizations: Facebook, Service, CNN, Hamas Locations: Gaza

☆ Belief in humanity gives son hope for mother missing after kibbutz raid
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Kate Holton | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"She's the most loving, caring, peace-seeking, justice-seeking human being," he told Reuters of the grandmother of six. "She became an Arabic teacher and Hebrew teacher. Sitting in his kitchen in north London, Noam Sagi, 53, said his one hope was that when the militants come face-to-face with those they have taken they will see them not as a Jew or an Israeli, but as humans. I just hope that they will realise that you can't prioritise yours over anyone else," he said. Hamas has vowed to execute a captive for each home hit without warning.

Persons: Noam Sagi, Ada, Toby Melville, Ada Sagi, Noam, Nir Oz, Kate Holton, Howard Goller Organizations: Hamas, REUTERS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Israel

☆ An Israeli family found out 5 relatives were likely kidnapped by Hamas after video showing one of the kids being grabbed by armed militants appeared online
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

An Israeli family believes that five relatives, including three kids, have been taken hostage by Hamas militants. They say a video emerged online showing one of the kids being grabbed by gunmen. The family is now pleading for the safe return of their missing relatives from the village of Nir Oz. AdvertisementAdvertisementAn Israeli family believes that five relatives, including three children, were taken hostage by Hamas fighters amid the Palestinian militant group's attacks on Israel after seeing a video showing one of the kids being grabbed by gunmen appear online. The assault by the Hamas militant group has already left more than 900 dead in Israel, with many more injured.

Persons: Nir Oz, —, Carmela Dan, Erez Kalderon, Sahar Kalderon, Noya Dan, Ofer Kalderon, Noam Dan, Sabrina Belhassen, Nimtzovitch, Hama, Israel, Alisa Shodiyev Kaff Organizations: Service, Hamas, The New York Times Locations: Israel, Nir, Gaza, Belhassen

☆ American Living in Israel Says Extended Family Among the Missing From Kibbutz
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Abbey Onn, an American who moved to Israel from Massachusetts eight years ago, said five of her extended family members are among those believed to have been kidnapped from a kibbutz called Nir Oz. She lost contact with them Saturday morning after learning from a family group chat that Hamas was in the kibbutz and that there had been gunshots. “The following day, we saw Hamas uploaded a video of their 12-year-old son being kidnapped,” said Onn, whose husband is Israeli. “My husband and I burst into tears when we saw it and since then, we’re just trying to connect to consulates and government and media to try to make sure that people understand that this is humanitarian and not political.”

Persons: Nir Oz, ”, Onn, “, we’re Locations: American, Israel, Massachusetts

☆ An Israeli father saw a video of his wife, two daughters, and mother-in-law being taken hostage by Hamas militants and he's pleading that the fighters show them 'respect'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-09 | by ( Natalie Musumeci | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

An Israeli dad says he saw a video of his wife and children held hostage by Hamas militants. AdvertisementAdvertisementAn Israeli father is begging Hamas militants not to harm his family after he recognized his wife, two young daughters, and mother-in-law in a viral video being held hostage in the back of a pickup truck and flanked by armed fighters. Asher told Reuters he was able to identify "my wife, my two daughters, and my mother-in-law on some kind of a cart, and terrorists of Hamas all around them." AdvertisementAdvertisementThe father said his daughters are less than 5 and 3 years old, and he pleaded for the militants not to hurt his family. More than 100 people are believed to have been taken hostage by Hamas following the group's attacks on Israel.

Persons: —, Yoni Asher, Doron Asher Katz, Asher, Nir Oz, Asher Katz's mother's, Khan Younis, he's, Israel Organizations: Service, Gaza, New York Times, Reuters, Israel Defense Forces Locations: Israeli, Palestinian, Israel, Nir, Gaza, Khan

LUZIT, Israel, Oct 9 (Reuters) - Soon after Hamas gunmen invaded Israel's villages videos began to emerge of seized Israelis being dragged away into Gaza. One showed an elderly woman, a defiant expression on her face, driven on a golf cart into the Palestinian enclave. The family of the bespectacled grey-haired woman, wrapped in a pink blanket and later identified as 85-year-old Yafa Adar, recognized her instantly. "I can't even start to understand how people think it makes sense to kidnap an 85 years old lady, kidnap babies, kidnap kids," said Adva. And you can see there, she's sitting trying to show them, she's not afraid and she's not hurt.

Persons: That's, Adva Adar, Nir, Yaffa's, Israel, Adva, she's, Maayan Lubell, Bill Berkrot Organizations: Reuters, Thomson Locations: LUZIT, Israel, Gaza, Luzit, Adva's

☆ Israelis desperately seek word on missing kin from Hamas attack
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-08 | by ( Dan Williams | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Though long used to war, Israel was blindsided by the multi-pronged attack by Hamas gunmen in which hundreds were killed. One mother spoke with Reuters after giving her DNA sample and handing over a brush with hair follicles from her son, who was at an outdoor dance party that was stormed by Hamas gunmen. Outside the police center, a man prayed with a rabbi as his fiancee filled in a report for her missing brother. Its location was Khan Younis, a city in Gaza. "I surely identified my wife, my two daughters and my mother-in-law on some kind of a cart, and terrorists of Hamas all around them," he said.

Persons: Yoni Asher, Miro Maman, Nir Oz, Khan Younis, Hugh Lawson Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Ganot Hadar, Israel, Airport City

Search resuls for: "OZ"

25 mentions found