Arab and Jewish family members of hostages held in Gaza met this week in the southern Bedouin city of Rahat through the Partners in Fate organization, a group dedicated to promoting Jewish-Arab solidarity during the war. Family members shared their stories, emphasizing the similarities between them and calling for the return of their loved ones.
“On October 7 we became one family, and we are partners in fate,” Shai Wenkert, father of 22-year-old hostage Omer Wenkert, shared. “We are part of the most important struggle happening in the state of Israel. Our shared strength can create tremendous pressure on our enemies. You can’t beat our spirit. We live in one country, we live on the same ground, and we are all humans. Our blood is the same blood. On October 7 they didn’t distinguish between hostages.”
Several of the victims of the October 7 attack and those taken hostage were Arabs, especially members of Israel’s Bedouin community in southern Israel near the Gaza Strip.
Four members of the Bedouin Alziadana family of Rahat were taken hostage on October 7 while working in the Kibbutz Holit cow shed. Bilal Ziyadne, 18, and Aisha Ziyadne, 17, were released during the November hostage deal, but their brother Hamza Ziyadne, 22, and father Youssef Hamis Ziyadne, 53, remain in captivity.
“The hostages are all of our children,” Youssef’s cousin Bashir Ziyadne said. “We all could have been in the same boat. We’re hoping for a deal and for developments in the state that will prevent this from happening again.”
“We’re tired of telling our story,” Youssef’s brother Eli Ziyadne said. “I hope that this is the last gathering that we’ll tell it. There’s a table with a deal sitting on it that everyone supports. I’m calling on the prime minister: don’t go to the US until you’ve signed the deal.”
He also called on Opposition Leader Yair Lapid to join the government and to replace far-right ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, both of whom have vocally opposed a hostage deal.
Ila Metzger, daughter-in-law of Yoram Metzger, whose body remains in Hamas captivity, also expressed her frustration with the government. “I see the state as totally responsible,” she said. “It needs to put forward some sort of development that will provide hope for people both here and on the other side. Unfortunately, my prime minister is putting off signing the agreement to return the hostages. We’re at the moment of truth.”
Sha’ban al-Sayed, the father of Hisham al-Sayed, a 36-year-old Bedouin with schizophrenia who has been held in Gaza since entering the strip in 2015, said, “The brotherhood between Jews and Arabs has existed since the founding of the state. If we leave behind politics there will be stronger brotherhood between us. We support everyone who helps with the return of the hostages. I’m ready to come to every meeting anywhere in order to support the return of the hostages.”
Fouad Talalka from the Bedouin town of Hura, whose son Samar Talalka was mistakenly killed by the Israeli military in Gaza along with fellow hostages Alon Shamriz and Yotam Haim, also spoke at the event, as did Salam Alatrash, the brother of Mohammad Alatrash, whose body is being held in Gaza; Shuki Raviv, a relative of the hostage Avraham Munder; and Mohammad Al Qadi, a relative of the hostage Farhan Al Qadi
The event was supported by solidarity organization Have You Seen the Horizon Lately as well as the Rahat community center.
