Moran Stela Yanai, 40, is one of those held hostage by Hamas in Gaza. Her brother Leon hopes that the sister is one of the hostages who will be released, if there is an agreement between Hamas and Israel.
– My wish is that she comes home alive, he says to TV4 Nyheterna.
Relatives of two people held hostage by Hamas visited Sweden on Tuesday to, among other things, meet the government and the media. The purpose of the meeting is to draw the attention of the outside world to the situation of the hostages.
TV4 Nyheterna met one of the relatives, Leon Yanai. His sister, Moran Stela Yanai is still being held hostage by Hamas.
– I urge the government to do something about it, to act, and get everyone home alive, says Leon Yanai to TV4 Nyheterna.
The family had hoped to find Moran, who was at the music festival in Israel when terror-labeled Hamas carried out the terror attack. But after seeing her in a video that spread on social media, they realized she was being held hostage, Leon Yanai says. In the clip, she is in Gaza and begs for her life.
– I’m used to seeing her laugh and dance, but suddenly I saw her in this nine-second clip. Since then, the family has done everything we could to bring her home alive, he says.
Negotiations on hostage agreements
At the same time as the relatives visited, information came that Hamas and Israel must agree on the main features of an agreement on a temporary ceasefire in exchange for the release of a number of the hostages taken by Hamas. There has been talk of 50-100 of the hostages being released as part of the agreement.
US government sources claimed on Tuesday afternoon that there was an agreement.
– Now we are very close, said US President Joe Biden.
Now Leon Yanai hopes that the sister is one of the hostages who will be released if the agreement goes through. But he believes at the same time that other hostages will be released first.
– I understand that it may not work, but to get as many people home alive as possible. And I hope Moran will be one of them. There are so many people out there who really need help. It is small children, mothers, injured, sick, whose lives are in greater danger.
– But I believe that she will come home to me, to the family, to us and that we will be together again, he continues.
About 200 people are being held hostage in Gaza after the terrorist-branded Hamas attack on Israel on October 7.