Current:Home > FinanceIsrael's U.N. mission hears from families of kidnapped, missing: "We want them back. It's all we want."-DB Wealth Institute B2 Reviews & Ratings
Israel's U.N. mission hears from families of kidnapped, missing: "We want them back. It's all we want."
lotradecoin fees View Date:2024-12-26 01:47:19
At a standing-room-only meeting at U.N. headquarters in New York, Israel's U.N. mission heard heart-wrenching accounts from families of Israelis, Americans and others believed to have been kidnapped by Hamas during its attack on Israel last Saturday.
"We experienced our darkest moment since the Holocaust," Israel's U.N. Ambassador Gilad Erdan said, adding, "Men, women, children, the elderly, not even newborn babies were spared. Entire communities have been erased. The savagery is unfathomable."
The first family member to speak was Yoni Asher, joining virtually from Israel. His wife Doron (who has German citizenship); their two young daughters, Raz and Aviv; as well as his mother, his mother-in-law and her husband were all taken hostage by Hamas.
"On Saturday morning… I woke up to the worst nightmare of my life," he said, tearing up as the crowd listened in silence.
"My wife was visiting her mother at one of the kibbutzim and I stayed home," Asher said. "I got a phone call from my wife, scared, scared, whispering, terrifying, saying that she's hearing gunshots and people are entering the house. Later on, I saw a video and, on this video, I saw my wife, two daughters got taken on a vehicle and I recognized them."
"I can't describe such a moment in words where you watch your whole family get taken away from you," he said.
Liam and Alana Zeitchik spoke about six family members — Danielle Alony, Sharon Alony Cunio, David Cunio, Julie Cunio, Emma Cunio and Amelia Alony — who were taken hostage.
Raquel and Jay Zeichik spoke about their niece Danielle and her family. "We want them back. It's all we want. We don't want war. The world should be together with us," Raquel Zeichik told CBS News.
There was Rabbi Burton Visotzky, whose cousin, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, was taken.
"Hersh had just had his 23rd birthday and he knew there was this great dance party going on, so he went," he told CBS News. "And as the dawn broke, Hamas attacked and they blew off part of his arm by guns or a grenade and then they took him captive."
"He must be in dire need of medical care," Visotzky said.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., also spoke at the meeting. "Let us be clear, there's absolutely no place for this evil in the world. No justification, no excuse," she said. "Know that the United States, working closely with our Israeli partners, is doing everything we can to secure the release of all hostages."
The meeting ended with "Hatikva," Israel's national anthem, performed by Israeli singer Noa Kirel.
- In:
- Hamas
- Israel
- United Nations
Pamela Falk is the CBS News correspondent covering the United Nations, and an international lawyer.
TwitterveryGood! (6371)
Related
- US shoppers sharply boosted spending at retailers in July despite higher prices
- Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff stops by USA women’s basketball practice
- A judge adds 11 years to the sentence for a man in a Chicago bomb plot
- Suspected arson attack in Nice, France kills 7 members of same family, including 3 children
- How you can get a free scoop of ice cream at Baskin Robbins Wednesday
- Montana attorney general didn’t violate campaign finance rules, elections enforcer says
- Marine accused of flashing a Nazi salute during the Capitol riot gets almost 5 years in prison
- Yankees honor late AP photojournalist Kathy Willens with moment of silence before game vs. Rays
- 'RuPaul's Drag Race Global All Stars': Premiere date, cast, where to watch and stream
- From 'Twister' to 'Titanic,' these are the 20 best disaster movies ever
Ranking
- Clint Eastwood's Son Scott Shares How Family Is Doing After Death of Christina Sandera
- California judge halts hearing in fight between state agricultural giant and farmworkers’ union
- Some convictions overturned in terrorism case against Muslim scholar from Virginia
- Shane Lowry keeps calm and carries British Open lead at Troon
- Jackson City Councilwoman Angelique Lee resigns after federal bribery charge
- Plastics Pollution Has Become a ‘Crisis,’ Biden Administration Acknowledges
- American Airlines has a contract deal with flight attendants, and President Biden is happy about it
- Why Kim Zolciak Is Finally Considering Returning to Real Housewives of Atlanta
Recommendation
-
Streamer stayed awake for 12 days straight to break a world record that doesn't exist
-
Get an Extra 70% Off J.Crew Sale Styles, an Extra 20% Off Pottery Barn Clearance & More Weekend Deals
-
Tennessee will remove HIV-positive people convicted of sex work from violent sex offender list
-
How Simone Biles kicked down the door for Team USA Olympians to discuss mental health
-
NASA Shares Update on Astronauts Stuck Indefinitely in Space
-
Seattle police officer fired over vile comments after death of woman fatally struck by police SUV
-
FedEx, UPS warn deliveries may be delayed due to Microsoft outage
-
Nevada judge who ran for state treasurer pleads not guilty to federal fraud charges