Today marks six months since the October 7 attack. Of the nearly 250 people taken into captivity by Hamas that day, some 130 are still held in Gaza; of that number, at least 34 are known to be dead. Most of the hostages are Israeli. For their families, the torment of the past 180 days is unimaginable. The suffering of the hostages themselves is unfathomable. We owe it to them to hold them in our minds and hearts — to pray for their safe return.
Five of the hostages are dual U.S.-Israeli citizens. The names of these five Americans, believed to be alive, deserve to be better known.
Edan Alexander, 19, grew up in Tenafly, N.J., and volunteered for the Israeli army after graduating from Tenafly High School, where he was a swimming champ. He was serving near Gaza when he was kidnapped. His father said that Edan “volunteered for the IDF because he felt it was the right thing to do.”
Omer Neutra, 22, from Long Island, N.Y., volunteered for the Israeli army after a gap year in Israel and was planning to return to attend Binghamton University. He was serving as a tank commander near Gaza when he was seized by Hamas. His parents describe him as “an all-American kid” who loves the NBA.
Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, was born in California and lived in Virginia before immigrating with his family to Israel. On 10/7, he was at the Nova music festival. When Hamas attacked, he tried to hide with nearly 30 others in a roadside bomb shelter. Terrorists threw hand grenades into it and sprayed it with gunfire. Hersh survived, but video of his capture shows him missing his left arm below the elbow.
Sagui Dekel-Chen, 35, a dual citizen, was seized while trying to protect his community at Kibbutz Nir Oz from the terrorist invasion. His pregnant wife and two little daughters barricaded themselves in their safe room and survived. Sagui has not yet met his third daughter, born during his captivity.
Keith Siegel, 64, from North Carolina, made aliyah (immigrated to Israel) many years ago. He and his wife, Aviva, were abducted from Kibbutz Kfar Aza. Aviva was released in November. She has said Keith’s ribs were broken during their capture; upon her release, she told him to stay strong.
The IDF has confirmed the deaths of three American-Israelis whose bodies are being held by Hamas.
Itay Chen, an IDF member, was killed on October 7 at age 19. The IDF told his parents — his father is a native New Yorker — that he died defending civilians near the Gaza border. His death was confirmed in March. May his memory be a blessing.
Judih Weinstein Haggai and Gadi Haggai, both in their 70s, parents of four and grandparents of seven, were residents of Kibbutz Nir Oz. Judih was an upstate New York native; Gadi’s parents were both born in the U.S. The husband and wife were shot by terrorists while out for their morning walk. Both were believed to have been kidnapped, but in December the IDF confirmed that they were killed. May their memories be a blessing.