In the midst of countless testimonies surfacing on social media, revealing the anguish of those with missing loved ones taken to the Gaza Strip, one particularly distressing account emerged, narrated by theater luminary Uri Ravitz.
He posted a photograph of his elderly mother, her face etched with worry, igniting a wave of empathy and concern.
'No one has reached out to us'
"This is my mother with the light blue shirt. She is 84 years old. She was kidnapped from her home in Nahal Oz by Hamas. This photo reached me an hour ago and is the first sign of life, or evidence of what is happening with her after more than 24 hours...
"My brother, who was trapped elsewhere in Nahal Oz, managed to reach her house after the soldiers came to free him and escort him to a bus evacuating Nahal Oz residents to safety. What he found was a home in disarray and a police station turned upside down. But our mother was nowhere to be found.
"This photograph unequivocally points to her whereabouts," he continued. "Up to this moment, no one has reached out to us, offered any information, or provided guidance or relief of any kind. The lawlessness in the Gaza Strip persists, even in the wake of such a calamity. Our distress remains unaddressed."
Countless families are enduring an excruciating wait for any sign of their missing loved ones who may have been abducted to the Gaza Strip. Days have passed since the sudden onslaught by Hamas and the commencement of the "Swords of Iron" operation.
Another missing person: Sharon Gordani
Among the disappeared is 25-year-old Sharon Gordani from Kidron, who went missing while attending a nature party in the south with his friends. Desperate for any information regarding his whereabouts and condition, his family and friends appeal to the public for assistance.
Sharon's father, Eyal, shared his anguish with Walla!
"All we know is that he and his friends sought refuge in a shelter," Gordani said. "Terrorists hurled grenades inside, and he vanished from there."
He said that Sharon's injured friends, in their distress, called out his name and scoured the area for him.
"Our greatest agony lies in the silence, with neither the state nor hospitals offering any communication. We feel abandoned," Gordani said.