Painful wait for families as Hamas and Israel extend ceasefire and hostage exchange

Relatives of victims and hostages of the October 7 terrorist attacks in Israel have met with the Prime Minister after giving an emotional plea.

The mother of a 22-year-old man who has been held hostage by Hamas after being kidnapped in his home by militants has pleaded for confirmation of the safety of her son.

Iris Haim, whose son, Yotam, was abducted from his home in Kibbutz Nir Oz in the early hours of October 7, said she lives in fear every day she doesn’t see her son listed by militants for release as part of hostage exchange deal between Israel and Hamas.

“Everyone’s praying that their son will be on the list,” Ms Haim told reporters.

“My family, we are living in psychological terror because they don’t give names until the last minute, while we wait in fear.”

Families gathered on the lawn outside of Canberra’s Parliament House. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Ms Haim joined four other family members and representatives of people who were kidnapped or murdered by Hamas on October 7 ahead of a meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, deputy Richard Marles and Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Tuesday.

They have flown to Australia from Israel to meet with senior government officials to call for the immediate release of all 240 hostages thought to be held captive by Hamas.

Mr Albanese welcomed the group and thanked them for raising the issue and ensuring it is front of mind for Australians.

“I just express on behalf of the government and on behalf of the Australian people our sincere sympathy and condolences for your loss of loved ones, friends and family,” he said.

“And our commitment to continue to call consistently, unequivocally for the release of all the hostages that have now been taken for a long period of time.

The families met with the Labor leadership team on Tuesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“I’m sorry about the circumstances for your visit here to Australia. But you are very, very welcome here.”

Elad Levy, 49, whose 19-year-old niece Roni Eshel, an IDF soldier, was murdered on October 7, said he believed there was a very strong distinction between Hamas terrorists and the Palestinian people.

“Hamas is a terrorist organisation. They kill people for being people, not Muslims, not believing - they kill Muslims and Arabs in Gaza. They kill their own people,” he said.

Loved ones say they have had no communication about the whereabouts of their family members. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Tali Kizhner, 50, whose 22-year-old son Sergev was murdered while attending a music festival after Hamas gunmen initiated a surprise attack on October 7, issued to tearful plea to people spreading anti-Semitic messages to grieving families.

“It was not a matter of religion, it was not a matter of gender. They [Hamas] simply came to kill everyone,” she said.
“We deserve peace and quiet and we do not understand why people are saying these horrible, anti-Semitic things about us. Hatred is a disease.”

Representatives will meet with Anthony Albanese at 2pm. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Mr Albanese said the rise in anti-Semitism, domestically and internationally, is a major concern for the government.

“You have here my leadership team, just an indication of the seriousness that we take this issue, of the fact that we are concerned about the rise of anti-Semitism that is seen globally.

“And unfortunately, there has been some reflection of that here in Australia. I was last week in Melbourne at the opening of the quite remarkable Holocaust Museum.

“That was a reminder, a constant reminder, school children coming through there being reminded of where hatred can end. And it was important that the community are involved with but also that the border Australian community are involved with (it).”

The Israeli ambassador, Amir Maimon along with Family members of Israeli hostages held by Hamas meet with Mr Albanese. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The families’ pleas come after a reported 69 hostages were freed by Palestinian militant group Hamas over the first three days of a mutually agreed truce, which began on Friday. In exchange, a total of 33 Palestinians were released from Israeli prisons on Monday, according to Israeli authorities.

Qatari officials announced on Monday that the truce would be extended for another two days, raising hopes that more additional aid will flow into Gaza and the release of more hostages, prisoners and detainees than initially expected.

The cease-fire has marked the longest break in fighting in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, when Hamas gunman and other armed groups launched an attack on Israel, killing about 1,200 people and taking about 240 people hostage.