Families of Israeli hostages prepare to reunite with loved ones | 7.30

Key Concepts

• Hamas: A Palestinian Sunni-Islamist fundamentalist organization that has governed the Gaza Strip since 2007.
• Nova Music Festival: An outdoor trance music festival near Re'im, Israel, which was attacked by Hamas on October 7, 2023, leading to mass casualties and kidnappings.
• Gaza Strip: A self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, bordering Egypt and Israel.
• Negev Desert: A desert region in southern Israel.
• Israeli Parliament (Knesset): The unicameral national legislature of Israel.
• Israel Defense Forces (IDF): The military forces of the State of Israel.
• Kibbutz: A collective community in Israel, traditionally based on agriculture.
• Kfar Aza: A kibbutz in southern Israel, located near the Gaza Strip, heavily impacted by the October 7 attacks.
• Hostage: A person seized or held as security for the fulfillment of a condition. In this context, Israelis kidnapped by Hamas.
• Detainee/Prisoner: A person held in custody, especially for political reasons or without trial. In this context, Palestinians held in Israeli jails.
• October 7: Refers to the date of the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, which initiated the ongoing conflict.

The Calfon Family's Ordeal and Reunion

Kobe Calfon, a bakery owner from the Negev Desert in southern Israel, was preparing for the return of his son, Segev, two years after Segev was kidnapped from the Nova Music Festival by Hamas and taken into Gaza. Initially, Mr. Calfon refrained from speaking publicly about his son's abduction. However, after meeting a released hostage, he became a prominent public campaigner. He addressed the Israeli Parliament and traveled to the United States, crediting the "US team" with securing his son's release. The family, described as "nervous and excited," packed well in advance of being called to the Gaza border. When asked about the feeling of holding his son again, Mr. Calfon emotionally stated, "I think I need some doctor card doctor." The Israeli military later confirmed that all living hostages, including Segev, had been released, with the Israeli Prime Minister's office releasing an image of the family's embrace.

The Burash Family's Wait for a Detainee's Return

In southern Gaza, Iklas Muhammad Fhmi Burash was anxiously awaiting the return of her 32-year-old husband, Ibrahim, who was arrested in the north in November 2024 (as stated in the transcript, though context suggests 2023). Iklas and her son, Samir, had not spoken with Ibrahim since his arrest but learned from other prisoners that he was being held in an Israeli jail. Iklas asserted that her husband was "not part of any armed group." The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had not yet responded to ABC's inquiries regarding the reasons for his detention. The 28-year-old Iklas expressed her unwillingness to return to her home in the north without her husband, hoping he would be among the Palestinian detainees released as part of the deal. Legal rights groups have raised concerns that "many are being held without compelling evidence against them." The UN reported that "at least 75 have died in custody" and "others have been tortured," claims that Israel denies.

Kibbutz Kfar Aza: A Community in Limbo

Just outside Gaza's border, the residents of Kibbutz Kfar Aza were preparing for the return of two hostages from their community: twin brothers Gali and Ziv Bur. A birthday cake was made for the brothers' 28th birthday. This part of the kibbutz has tragically transformed into a "kind of museum" where Israelis visit to witness the aftermath of the October 7 attacks. A resident recounted the bravery of Neta, who was killed "by jumping on the grenade that he wanted to save his girlfriend."

Shak, a resident, explained that the community had not yet begun to think about rebuilding, stating, "No, we are waiting that Gallian Z will be back and then we will start." Shak had not lived in Kfar Aza since October 7, only returning "to take things." He emphasized the importance of community for kibbutz life: "the house the building is not enough. You have to be with your friends with your neighbors then the child have to go here. So we cannot live here without without the community without the people. But we will be back for sure."

Kibbutz Kfar Aza is located just over a kilometer from Gaza, directly across from the eastern part of Gaza City, which has been "bombed, bulldozed, and emptied of its residents." When asked about his feelings regarding the devastation in Gaza, Shak responded with detachment: "Nothing. I don't care. I don't care. I'm only dealing with what what's going on here. I'm not happy. I'm not sad. I'm not anything. I don't care." He added, "I'm coming here just because you want, but I don't care what's going on in the other side."

Before the war, many residents of Kfar Aza volunteered to help Gazans. However, Shak now doubts the possibility of peace on the border anytime soon. Despite this, he expressed a deep desire for a return to normalcy: "I wish. I don't know. I want to live here good. I want that my daughter will be back to Faraza with her child. Okay, that I want that what I want. I want to I want to to to make a good potatoes in in in the fields." He concluded with a conditional hope for coexistence: "I don't care about what's going on there, but if they will live good, we live good." The Israeli military later confirmed the release of the twins, Gali and Ziv Burman (likely the same as Bur).

Conclusion

This video transcript offers a poignant glimpse into the human impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict, focusing on the emotional anticipation of families on both sides awaiting the return of loved ones. It highlights the profound personal suffering of Israeli families like the Calfons, whose son Segev was kidnapped from the Nova Music Festival, and the collective trauma experienced by communities like Kibbutz Kfar Aza, devastated by the October 7 attacks. Simultaneously, it sheds light on the plight of Palestinian families like the Burashes, whose husband Ibrahim was detained, raising concerns about due process and conditions in Israeli jails. The narrative underscores the complex and often contradictory perspectives of those directly affected, from Kobe Calfon's gratitude for international efforts to Shak's raw indifference towards Gaza's destruction, juxtaposed with his yearning for a peaceful return to agricultural life in Kfar Aza. The confirmed release of the Israeli hostages, including the Burman twins, brings a measure of relief, yet the broader questions of security, justice, and the possibility of future coexistence remain deeply uncertain for all involved.