Hamas hostages: Erez, Sahar and Eitan, the three detained French minors, released after 52 days of captivity

2023-11-27 22:45:57

The end of 52 days of captivity for three French children. Erez Kalderon, Sahar Kalderon and Eitan Yahalomi were released this Monday after being hostages of Hamas for more than seven weeks, kidnapped on October 7 from Kibbutz Nir Oz, near the Gaza Strip.

This release is a huge relief for their family. “I’m very happy, Hadas is very happy! But I’m waiting to see them on TV to be sure! » rejoiced to the Parisian Yishai Dan, uncle of Hadas Kalderon and great-uncle of the two young freed hostages, who still struggled to believe the news.

The families were notified around 5 p.m. (French time). Hadas, the mother of the two teenagers, then burst out with joy in the middle of the shopping center where she was when she was informed of their imminent release by the Israeli authorities. “They are free, they are free, I’m going to see them, open the champagne!” » she shouted, in the middle of the crowd.

For her part, Eitan’s mother, Batsheva, immediately left towards the border with the Gaza Strip, as the little boy’s grandmother, Jocelyne, told us.

Kidnapped “in pajamas” during the attack

Erez and Sahar Kalderon, siblings aged 12 and 16, “were both in their pajamas when they were kidnapped,” their mother Hadas told us. With their father Ofer, they hid in a bush for a while before being found by terrorists and kidnapped. Gaia, their older sister, was in another house during the attack and was able to escape Hamas.

The third freed French hostage, Eitan Yahalomi, 12, was kidnapped on October 7 by Hamas terrorists on a motorcycle. The wait had become unbearable for the families and loved ones of these children. “I try to do my best not to lose hope,” confided Sunday evening Tse’era, Eitan’s big cousin, whose name did not appear on the list of hostages returned for the third consecutive day. The fourth round of releases was the right one for the Yahalomi family.

The children’s fathers, Ofer Kalderon (53 years old) and Ohad Yahalomi (49 years old), are still considered hostages of Hamas. As adults, they are not considered for release by Hamas under the terms of the signed agreement. This provides that only children, their mothers and elderly women can be handed over to the Red Cross in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners.

These three young French people all grew up in the kibbutz of Nir Oz, among those who paid one of the heaviest tolls during the October 7 attack. This place is known for having worked hard for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. “The residents organized themselves to allow sick Gazans to be treated in Israeli hospitals,” insists Yishai Dan, uncle of Hadas Kalderon.

Fourteen other hostages freed

Alongside Sahar, Erez and Eitan, eight other Israeli hostages were released this Monday: Sharon Aloni Cunio (34 years old), her twins Emma and Yuli (3 years old), the brothers Or (12 years old) and Yagil Yaacov (16 years old). ), Karina Engel-Bart (52 years old) and her children Mika (18 years old) and Yuval (11 years old). “We are starting to see a little light in the darkness in which we find ourselves,” Diego Engel-Bart, brother and uncle of the newly released hostages, responded to the Israeli press. Six Thais also found freedom during this operation.

They are in addition to the 39 Israelis (including around twenty minors) and 19 foreign nationals released by Hamas since the truce came into force on November 24. The two parties reportedly agreed on a two-day extension, which should allow the release of at least 20 additional hostages.

The fate of three other French people still remains unknown: Orion Hernandez-Radoux (32 years old), Mia Schem (21 years old) and Eliya Toledano (28 years old) have not had contact with their loved ones since October 7.