Hamas terrorists released an additional 13 hostages and four foreign workers to return back to Israel late Saturday night, leading to family members of the missing to share their reunion tales while continuing to call for the return of the remaining hostages.
According to the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, families of survivors rescued from Hamas captivity have expressed their gratitude for reunions, while simultaneously calling for further release of those still held hostage.
Family members of 72-year-old Adina Moshe, who was released Friday night after 49 days as a hostage in Gaza, continue to call for the return of the captives.
"The whole family are here together because even though she came back, we are here to support all the other families, we are all one big family, and our family will stay here until everybody will get back home. Bring them home now!"
Families of the released recalled not having spoken to their loved ones yet, but that they had seen them through their TV screens before heading to the hospital to reunite.
Chen Avidgori, whose wife and daughter were kidnapped by Hamas and released late Saturday night, was able to embrace the reality of his loved ones coming home.
"This is where my small story about this event ends. My heart... I'm ecstatic," he said with tears in his eyes. "It's insane. I had a good feeling about their release. My phone is blowing up," Avigdori told Israeli media. "We knew since yesterday that this was supposed to happen, but we didn't talk about it. I'm feeling nervous, but also happy."
Zohar Avigdori, who is the uncle of Noam Avigdori and sister-in-law of Sharon Avigdori, said: "We are very excited, our legs are shaking and we are impatiently waiting to hug our loved ones, Noam and Sharon. We don't forget for a moment that these are the same legs that will continue the journey to sustain us in the long journey that is still ahead of us - until the safe return of all the hostages."
While many families were reunited in the earliest hours of Sunday morning, others shared a sense of excitement and grief simultaneously.
Late Saturday night, Adi Shoham was released alongside her family members with whom she was held captive by Hamas. Though five members of the family held hostage were released, one still remained.
Inbal Tzach, the cousin of Adi Shoham and the now freed Shoham family, told the Hostages and Missing Families Forum: "Like everyone else we watched our loved ones on their way home. We saw Adi with Nave, Yahal, Shoshan, Noam, and Sharon. Of course we are still waiting for Tal to come home, as well as for everyone else.
"The struggle has not ended. This is the saddest joy and the happiest sadness, but our family is home. Keep fighting with us. We still have a long way to go. This is an emotional evening for the families who received their loved ones tonight. We will continue the struggle until everyone comes home."
The return of Emily Hand
Following the October 7th massacre, Thomas Hand was informed that his daughter, Emily, was dead. In a heartbreaking interview with CNN, he expressed the fear he would have of what his daughter would experience in captivity, believing that death was preferably to being held against her will by Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
Weeks later, no evidence was found to prove that her remains or DNA was found anywhere near her last known location - at the home of a friend, where she was having a sleepover. Her father was at home nearby, which terrorists never reached.
After 50 days, 9-year-old Hand was released from captivity and reunited with her father."We can't find the words to describe our emotions after 50 challenging and complicated days. We are overjoyed to embrace Emily again, but at the same time, we remember Raya Rotem and all the hostages who have yet to return. We will persist in doing everything in our power to bring them back home," he said in a statement to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum."We want to express our gratitude to everyone who helped and supported us during the last 50 days until Emily's return. We appreciate the unwavering support as we continue our efforts for the safe return of all."
Other released hostages, such as Yaffa Adar, the 85-year-old Holocaust survivor who was released Friday night, have vowed to keep fighting for those held hostage. Spoken through her grandson Alon Adar, who appeared at Saturday's rally marking 50 days of captivity, he shared that despite having been released merely 24 hours prior from Gaza, his grandmother wanted to attend the rally to stand in solidarity with her country.
“She was told to not come, but she is watching from afar and is proud of me and proud of all of us for doing this,” he said. Adar, like many other families of the captives, have expressed optimism and the need to keep pushing for the release of more hostages - until every one is home.