When Maayan Sigal-Koren arrived in Madrid, five close relatives had been missing for three weeks after Hamas abducted them. It was October 26, and the purpose of his travel was to seek international help for the release of Palestinian detainees. Now, via video conference from Tel Aviv, he shares the story while his relatives in Israel learn what happened. Three of the abducted relatives were later released by Hamas: his mother, his aunt, and his cousin. The other two, his uncle and his stepfather, remain unaccounted for in Gaza, with no certainty about their fate.
Sigal-Koren recounts the day of the abduction, the captivity, and the moment of release, drawing on statements gathered from his relatives and, in particular, conversations with his mother.
At Nir Yitzhak’s family home, Hamas militants were boisterous, shouting and ordering people to leave. The aunt feared the worst. The relatives embraced one another, tried to stay calm, and followed the militants’ directions as they were moved into a car at high speed toward Gaza. Nir Yitzhak is a kibbutz nearby, just a few kilometers from the southern barrier that cuts off the Palestinian Strip.
On entering Gaza, the group was escorted out of the car, led down a stairway about forty meters underground, and walked through a tunnel for roughly two hours before climbing a very tall ladder. Clara Sigal-Koren, aged 63, struggled to stand on the climb, and help was finally found to finish the ascent.
They reached a residence where they would remain under surveillance for the next 59 days. The mother describes how the soundscape of bombs during the night disrupted sleep, and the constant fear of renewed attacks cast a long shadow over the captives. Israel dropped thousands of bombs on the Gaza Strip, some weighing as much as a ton, destroying multi-storey blocks and often leaving deep craters in the ground.
Sigal-Koren chose to withhold some details about the abduction of his mother and other relatives to protect those still in danger. The safety of the remaining captives remains a priority, and Israeli officials advised them on what to share, as did the Israeli Foreign Ministry through the Spanish Embassy to coordinate communications with families of those abducted and to publicize their cases.
Ask permission for everything
The captives had to seek permission for every action and endured severe restrictions on their freedom. The mother recalls being subjected to a barrage of misinformation—a form of psychological stress that, in her view, reflected a broader lack of clarity from authorities.
Following a ceasefire brokered by Qatar and the United States on November 28, three women in Maayan’s family were released: his mother Clara, his aunt Gabriela, and his cousin Emilia. The moment of reunion was electric, with children rushing to embrace their grandmother for a long, overwhelming hug. The youngest, Emilia, 17, has returned to school. On her first day back, classmates welcomed her tearful welcome, though she speaks little about the ordeal to protect those still affected. All family members are receiving psychological support.
Family mobilization and outlook
Maayan stays informed about ongoing events via television coverage. When asked about the impact of Israel’s airstrikes on Gaza, which have resulted in substantial casualties, he maintains a consistent view: Palestinians in Gaza have been caught between Hamas’s grip and ongoing conflict. He believes that peace can be achieved only through negotiations, while insisting that Hamas must not remain a factor in the future of the region.
In Israel, relatives have organized to press the government to prioritize the return of their loved ones. The movement gained momentum after fatalities in the Israeli camp led to renewed calls for action. Sigal-Koren expresses confidence in the military when there is certainty about protecting civilians, but acknowledges that fear can cast doubt and urges transparent, strategic negotiations as the only viable path to freeing those held.
The Forum for the Families of Kidnapped and Missing Israeli Hostages in Gaza confirmed the death of a 73-year-old among those detained by Hamas. It is estimated that around twenty hostages died, with 128 still detained in Gaza. Efforts to secure a new ceasefire and the release of additional hostages have stalled as negotiations continue between the two sides.