Amid ongoing Israeli-Hamas conflict, many women and children have gone missing and been taken hostage by Hamas. The death toll has reached 600 Israelis and around 370 people in Gaza since the sudden and extensive attack was launched by Hamas on Saturday. Among the missing is Doron Asher, an Israeli mother, and her two daughters who were near the Gaza border when their home was attacked.
Doron Asher and her girls had traveled to Nir Oz village to visit their grandmother, as reported by Reuters. She called her husband, Yoni Asher, who was in central Israel, to inform him about the attack. Yoni said, “She told me the terrorists are in the house.” The call got disconnected, and he hasn’t heard from her since. Using his wife’s Google account, Yoni tracked her phone and discovered that she was located in Khan Younis, Gaza.
Later, a video surfaced on social media showing Doron Asher and her children being taken to Gaza. In the footage, they were seen sitting in a vehicle with other hostages. Yoni identified his wife, daughters, and mother-in-law in the video, surrounded by Hamas terrorists. He expressed deep concern for the safety of his family and even offered himself as a hostage in exchange for their release, pleading, “Don’t hurt them. Don’t hurt little children. Don’t hurt women. If you want me instead, I’m willing to come.”
In an interview with the New Yorker, Yoni Asher mentioned his efforts to contact government authorities for assistance in rescuing his family. He said, “I haven’t eaten or slept in fifteen hours… All I can do is reach out to everyone who will listen and share the names and photos of my family.” He expressed his frustration, stating that he had only been contacted by a social worker and hadn’t received any new information from security officials or the government.
Despite hearing from security officials and the foreign ministry on Sunday, Yoni Asher received no significant updates regarding his family. He expressed his fear and uncertainty about the future and the difficulties he faces while waiting for his family to return. Yoni shared his feelings of abandonment and the lack of support he perceives from officials. He feels stranded and helpless, not knowing how long it will take to bring his loved ones home and feeling like there is no one he can rely on.