The families called for the immediate release of the captives, reminding the world that behind every image is a person, a story, and a human being longing to return home.
A special Israeli delegation of former hostages and families of those still held captive by Hamas met with Pope Francis at the Vatican (Thursday, 14 November 2024).
During the emotional meeting, former captives and families, including Yocheved Lifshitz—recently released while her husband Oded remains in captivity—and Yelena Trofimov, whose son Sasha is still being held captive in Gaza, shared personal stories and asked the Pope to advocate for their loved ones.
The family of hostage Tal Shoham presented the Pope with a soccer jersey from Tal’s favorite team, symbolizing his love of the sport and calling for his release.
This delegation, organized by the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Hostage and Missing Persons Directorate, the Israeli embassies in Rome and the Vatican, the Ministry of Defense, and the Hostage Families Forum, seeks to keep the plight of over 100 hostages held by Hamas on the global agenda.
The families called for their immediate release, reminding the world that behind every image is a person, a story, and a human being longing to return home.