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James Covit

One Year Later, and They’re Still There

The horror-movie-like sight of Shiri Bibas cradling her kids on the back of a Hamas motorcycle en route to Gaza would have been unimaginable to us, and to her, just one year and one day ago. 

That clip was taken, of course, on October 7th, 2023. On that quiet Saturday morning in southern Israel, Hamas militants invaded numerous towns and villages, murdered entire families in their apartments, raped women, and slaughtered music lovers at the Nova festival—killing a total of about 1200 souls. In addition to all of the blood spilled that day, 251 cherished human beings were stolen into Gaza. Since then, some of these hostages have been returned, others rescued, and a handful executed. Namely, last month, Hamas shot 6 hostages in the back of the head, including American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, whose mother, Rachel, had become an international icon in her (tragically unsuccessful) attempt to secure the release of her son. Over the course of 11 months, Rachel spoke directly with the Pope and with dozens of world leaders, to the UN and the Democratic National Convention, and was awarded a spot on Time Magazine’s 100 “Most Influential People of 2024” list, ensuring that Hersh’s legacy will forever live on. Thank you, Rachel; we are so sorry.

Yet aside from those who (or whose bodies) have come back, there are still 101 people remaining in captivity—one chilling year later. Of the 101, dozens are believed to still be alive, including one and five-year-old red-headed brothers Ariel and Kfir Bibas (taken on the motorcycle with their mother), Arab-Israeli Hamzah AlZayadni and his father Yosel, Nepali agriculture student Bipin Joshi, Holocaust survivor Shlomo Mansour, peace activist Naama Levy, and seven Americans.

In all their time there, they—contrary to international humanitarian law—have been refused medical treatment by the Red Cross. According to testimony by released hostage Aviva Siegel—whose American husband, Kieth, remains a captive— the terrorists abuse the female hostages and watch them shower together. She has described seeing captives thrown to the ground on “filthy, dirty mattresses,” forbidden from moving or speaking, being beaten with sticks, and not given food for “24 hours or even more.” Per Israeli intelligence, as many as 22 handcuffed hostages serve as personal human shields to Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar. From the medical examination of executed Eden Yerushalmi—whose last text to her family was, ”Find me, ok?”—doctors found that she lost 22 pounds in captivity. And, thanks to Hamas’ video game-style propaganda videos and sudden executions, we know that the hostages’ lives are in constant danger. 

Yet, the tear-jerking videos of released children reuniting with their families serve as a reminder of what can be. Just ask the mother of Ohad Munder, the father of once-pronounced-dead Emily Hand, or the girlfriend of Ofir Engel. 

On the one-year anniversary of the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust, we remember all the souls whose lives were cut short at the hands of Hamas savages—45 of whom were American. But we also remember the 101 loved human beings who have suffered in the claustrophobic tunnels deep underground Gaza for an entire revolution around the sun.

Last October 7th, as the tectonic plates of the world we knew shifted ever so quickly beneath us, never would I have imagined that, on the following October 7th, we’d still be trying to find our balance. So today, let’s remember the 1200 lives we lost, and let’s pray for the 101 lives (and bodies) we can still save. Because, as I write this, and you read this, baby Kfir is still there. 

About the Author
James Covit is a high school student at the Heschel School in New York City. He is an alumni of Seeds of Peace International Camp and the American Jewish Committee's Leaders for Tomorrow fellowship.