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Unopened WhatsApp Messages: A Mother’s Anguish for Hostage Husband in Gaza
When Omri Miran eventually accesses his WhatsApp account, he is expected to receive a deluge of messages. These digital missives encapsulate eighteen months of family life tragically interrupted by his abduction into Gaza. The messages, meticulously compiled by his wife Lishay, include photos of their daughters and her late-night reflections, painting a poignant picture of an Israeli family enduring his absence since October 7, 2023.
Digital Diary of Hope and Longing
Lishay initiated this ongoing digital correspondence, titled “Notes to Omri,” three weeks after Hamas militants forcefully seized Omri from their Kibbutz Nahal Oz home. She has lost track of the sheer volume of messages dispatched into the digital void, each one a testament to enduring hope.
“My love, there are so many people you’ll need to meet upon your return,” she conveyed in a message from late October 2023. “Incredible individuals who are supporting me, strangers who have become pillars of strength.”
Months later, a message relayed the innocent words of their eldest daughter: “Roni just bid you goodnight at the window, our nightly ritual. She says you don’t hear her, and she can’t see you… Your absence is profoundly felt, and it’s increasingly difficult for her to cope.”
Birthday in Captivity and the Pain of Absence
Friday marked Omri’s 48th birthday, his second spent in captivity. As Omri reached this milestone birthday, presumably within the tunnel network of Gaza, Lishay continued her messaging, chronicling the growth of their daughters, who were mere toddlers when he last embraced them.
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Accounts from released hostages suggest Omri was alive as recently as last July, bolstering Lishay’s unwavering hope. However, this period is particularly harrowing, coinciding with Omri’s birthday and Pesach (Passover), the Jewish festival commemorating liberation from ancient Egyptian bondage.
“Passover is the festival of freedom,” Lishay remarked during an interview in a park adjacent to Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square. “Yet, freedom feels elusive, not just for me, but for all of Israel.”
Hostages Square: A Nation’s Plea for Release
Hostages Square served as the focal point for marking Omri’s birthday. Posters advocating for his release, previously displaying ages 46 and 47, were updated by Omri’s father, Danny, to reflect his 48th year.
Preparations for a symbolic Passover Seder were underway, featuring a lengthy table set for each of the 59 remaining Gaza hostages, 24 of whom are presumed living.
The square is replete with symbolic representations: a replica of a Gaza tunnel, tents symbolizing the Nova music festival tragedy, a merchandise stall supporting hostage families, and a “virtual reality hostage experience.” These elements collectively aim to maintain public awareness and exert political pressure on the Israeli government for the hostages’ freedom.
Nahal Oz: Seeking Connection Near the Gaza Border
Lishay and her daughters remain displaced from their Nahal Oz home, the scene of their family life’s violent disruption 18 months prior. However, Lishay returns periodically to the kibbutz, a mere 700 meters from the Gaza border, seeking a sense of proximity to Omri.
“I sense him there,” she explained. “I feel I can communicate with him in that space.”
Ceasefire’s End and Renewed Fears for Gaza Hostages
Following a ceasefire in mid-January, a fragile hope emerged, although Lishay acknowledged Omri’s age might delay his release. However, the cessation of hostilities lasted only two months. The border region, termed “the Gaza pocket” by Israelis, is again filled with the sounds of conflict, reigniting profound anxieties for hostage families.
Lishay confessed to experiencing “terror” during her recent visit to Nahal Oz, amidst the renewed conflict.
Political Dimensions and Personal Pain
While refraining from direct governmental condemnation unlike some hostage families, Lishay expressed “anger” at the resumption of war and its implications for hostage release prospects.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reference to “the Hungarian hostage”—alluding to Omri’s dual citizenship—during a meeting with Hungary’s Viktor Orban, was particularly painful for Lishay.
“It was deeply upsetting to witness,” she stated. “Omri possesses a name, an identity. He is not simply a hostage statistic.”
In a Passover address, Netanyahu reiterated his commitment to securing the hostages’ return and defeating Israel’s adversaries.
Despite ongoing discussions regarding another ceasefire agreement, its realization appears distant.
“The previous agreement in November 2023,” Lishay recalled, “came after over a year of waiting. Are we now facing another year-long wait? They cannot endure such conditions.”
Unwavering Hope Amidst Unopened Messages
For the foreseeable future, Lishay’s WhatsApp messages to Omri remain undelivered, their grey ticks stubbornly refusing to turn blue. Yet, her hope persists.
“I know, definitively, that day will arrive,” she affirmed, clinging to the belief of their eventual reunion.