PORTLAND, Ore. — At kibbutz Nir Oz in Israel, a mile and a half from the Gaza border, there are dozens of stories of horror including for the Yahalomi family. Forty-nine-year-old Ohad Yahalomi is believed to be a hostage of Hamas.
Ohad is the brother of Effie Avsker. She and her husband Mark are Israeli Americans living in the Portland area.
“We are on an emotional rollercoaster. Truly, I mean, we try to be very, very hopeful,” said Effie, who described her brother as a good-hearted person.
But hope is hard to maintain when the story gets worse. The couple said that Hamas is also holding their nephew captive, 12-year-old Eitan.
It started with missile fire, followed by gunfire outside of the family home in Nir Oz on Oct. 7. With the family threatened, Ohad went outside.
“Ohad tried to negotiate with them, not too successful, apparently — he was shot and wounded,” said Mark, who said terrorists left Ohad there, shot in the leg, but hauled off Ohad’s partner, Bat Sheva; their son Eitan; and their two girls, one 10 years old and the other 20 months.
Amazingly, the mother was able to escape with her two girls when the motorcycle they were being carried on crashed.
“But when she was falling from her motorcycle, she saw the other motorcycle with Eitan on it driving into Gaza … it was very close,” said Mark.
Back at the kibbutz, Ohad was nowhere to be found. The Israeli government believes he is one of the hundreds held in Gaza. But as much as they want him and Eitan released, the Avskers aren't among those who think that a ceasefire is the answer, which they believe would be giving Hamas a break.
“I just want to say this, a ceasefire is just amnesty to Hamas ... Peace and prosperity for Palestinians or for Israel is not compatible with an organization like Hamas in charge,” said Mark.
For now, all thoughts and attention are on their loved ones and all the others suffering.
“First I pray for my brother and my nephew to come back with all the other hostages,” said Effie. “Next, after they are back truly, I pray for a living and coexistence, with peace.”
