It’s been four weeks since hundreds of hostages were taken into the Gaza Strip by Hamas militants.
Among the 242 hostages, 37 are children aged 18 or under, according to The Hostage and Missing Families Forum – a group set up to demand the return of those kidnapped on 7 October.
Israel says Hamas killed 1,400 people, mostly civilians, in last month’s attack – the deadliest day of its 75-year history.
Hamas-run health authorities in Gaza say more than 9,400 people – thousands of them children – have been killed since Israel started its assault in retaliation.
And while Israel has urged civilians to move to the south of Gaza, casualty numbers are expected to rise in the coming days and weeks as Israel pushes on with ground, sea, and air operations in the north.
The Hostage and Missing Families Forum was launched in the days after Hamas’s attack, with its mission to “demand the safe return of all citizens who have been taken hostage” by the group’s militants.
The volunteer-run group have also offered families of hostages medical and emotional support, as well as professional assistance as they await news about their loved ones.
Top (L-R): Kfir Bibas, Aviv Katz Asher, Emilia Aloni, Ariel Bibas, Yahel Gani Shoham, Or Yaakov (no picture).
Centre (L-R): Oria Brodutch, Yuly Konio, Ema Konio, Tal Goldstein-Almog, Gal Goldstein-Almog, Yuval Brodutch.
Bottom (L-R): Noam Avigdori, Erez Kalderon, Ela Elyakim and Dafna Elyakim (no pictures), Raz Katz Asher, Ohad Munder Zachri, Alma Or
Top (L-R): Nave Shoham, Ofry Brodutch, Hila Rotem-Shoshani, Eitan, Yahalomi Eitan, Sahar Kalderon, Liam Or.
Centre (L-R): Engel Yuval, Ofir Engel, Liri Albag, Noam Or, Engel Mika, Yagil Yaakov (no picture).
Bottom (L-R): Noga Weiss, Agam Goldstein-Almog, Amit Shani, Mia Leimberg, Gali Tarshansky, Regev Itay
Some of the youngest hostages include two-year-old Aviv Katz Asher and five-year-old Emilia Aloni, who loves doing puzzles.
Ariel, four, and his nine-month-old baby brother Kfir were taken into Gaza, along with their parents Shiri and Yarden.
Their family have described Ariel as “energetic” and Kfir as “always smiling”.
Four-year old Oria Brodutch, whose family have said loves eating ice cream and playing football, was also taken alongside his “musically gifted” 10-year-old sister Ofry and his eight-year-old Lego-loving brother Yuval.
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Other siblings taken include 18-year-old Mika Engel and her younger sister Yuval, 10, who was kidnapped alongside their parents Ronen and Karina.
Agam Goldstein-Almog, 17, was taken alongside her younger brothers Gal, 11, and Tal, 9, and their mother Chen.
Others taken hostage include 18-year-old Liri Albag, whose life, her family say, “revolves around music and the arts”, and Avigodri Noam, 12, who is described as “charismatic, energetic, and caring”.
This story originally appeared on Skynews
