After returning from 49 days in captivity, 76-year old Hanna Katzir learned that her husband, Rami, was murdered on October 7 in the massacre perpetrated by Hamas terrorists and her son, Elad, is still being held by Hamas in Gaza.
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Her daughter Carmit Palty-Katzir told Ynet that her mother, like all the hostages who returned, was informed of the tragedies that befell her and the rest of her community of Nir Oz, which lost a quarter of its members who were either murdered or abducted.
Katzir appeared in a video released by the Islamic Jihad during her captivity showing proof of life, but this was part of the psychological warfare waged against Israel by the Islamist factions. She was among the first hostages to be freed on Friday.
"I am taking the next few hours to once again enjoy being close to my mother but will quickly return to the fight for my brother who is still in Gaza," Palty-Katzir said. "I know from the stories my mother has told how hard life was there and cannot imagine how difficult it is for my brother."
She said her mother's release was just a first step. "We now expect a long and arduous road to recovery which has just begun and we will be by her side for the duration. On the national level this is just the beginning and will end only when the last hostage is freed. That is our commitment to everyone. They must return, like they were abducted, that is Israel's duty," she said.
Orian Adar, whose 85-year-old grandmother Yaffa was also taken on October 7, said what her grandmother had told the family took her breath away. Yaffa Adar was abducted from her home by terrorists and was seen being driven into Gaza in some of the first video clips of that day.
She said her cousin, Yaffa's oldest grandchild, is still being held captive by the terrorists.
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Yaffa Adar reunited with her children after being released from Hamas captivity on Friday
Yair Moses whose mother, Margalit, was also among the first group of hostages freed, said his father Gadi is still being held captive. He called for the fight to bring all hostages home to continue. "Their release should be the primary objective of Israel and the hope of each Israeli," he said.
Anat Shoshani whose grandmother Adina also returned said that along side the joy of her grandmother's return, there is sadness after her grandfather was murdered.