A California family is waiting for the release of their nephew who is being held captive in the Gaza Strip by Hamas.
Amit Shani’s family said the teenager was abducted in the October 7 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel after seeing his village destroyed and his classmates killed.
Just before Shani, an Israeli, was taken hostage from his home in Kibbutz Be’eri in Israel, the teenager was able to send panicked texts to his loved ones and friends.
He has spent his 16th birthday as a hostage and his family is desperate for any information about him.
Tarzana, Calif. Elle Benami, a cousin of Shani’s father, Nir, told The Post that her family is waiting more than 40 days later.
“We know [he would not be] released on Friday and it was disappointing, so we were very anxious and scared,” said Benami.
Amit Shani, 16, was abducted by Hamas in front of his mother and younger sister in Kibbutz Be’eri on Oct. 7. Courtesy of Nir Shani
“We try not to think about it, but every day he’s still there, he’s in danger.
“Perhaps he is still bound in darkness, cold and fear. He probably hadn’t had a chance to shower in weeks and the hostage was defecating and peeing himself.
“We also don’t know if he was injured and what it was like there … if he was in a rat-infested and horrible place.”
Other families are also anxiously awaiting a four-day ceasefire between Israel and Hamas.
Amit Shani, left, with his father Nir. The teenager has been held hostage in Gaza for more than 40 days by Hamas. Courtesy of Elle Benami
A deal between Israel and Hamas saw a ceasefire begin on Friday and Hamas freed 24 hostages: 13 Israelis, 10 Thais and one Filipino.
They were the first of about 240 Hamas hostages captured during the terror attack. As part of the deal, Israel will exchange up to 150 Palestinian prisoners.
Although they haven’t heard anything about Shani yet, Benami says the whole family is trying to stay hopeful.
Amit Shani with his grandmother and little cousin in happier times. Courtesy of Elle Benami
He said Shani was with his mother and two younger sisters at Kibbutz Be’eri when Hamas terrorists entered their home around noon on October 7.
“He was able to send messages through WhatsApp and for about half an hour, he was pleading for help,” Benami said. “He texted, ‘They’re in my neighborhood, shooting at the house and now they’re trying to get into my house! Please, please … we need help!’”
Amit Shani, center, with his family. Courtesy of Nir Shani
Benami said that when Hamas terrorists finally broke into the house, they took Shani and tied her hands.
Shani’s mother and two younger sisters were also detained, but there was not enough room in the truck for them.
“So instead these Hamas terrorists tore off the necklaces of the girls and put knives to their throats and took pictures of them like that,” said Benami. “They took Amit and basically, it was like meat and they threw it in the truck.”
The Hamas terrorists made the woman and the girl walk alongside the truck, but after a while, the terrorists stopped and let them go.
A picture of the family’s home in Kibbutz Be’eri after the October 7 Hamas attack in which Amit Shani, 16, was taken hostage. Courtesy of Nir Shani
“The last thing Amit saw was his two sisters surrounded by seven terrorists armed with guns and knives,” Benami said. “I don’t think he knows they’re alive.”
Shani’s father, Nir Shani, was in another house when his son was taken hostage. Nir almost died after his own house was set on fire by terrorists, Benami said.
Benami said, Nir suffered from severe smoke inhalation, but was rushed to the hospital to recover.
Now they are waiting for any news about the whereabouts of the 16-year-old boy.
“We technically don’t know if Amit is still alive, but we are told that his name is among the other hostages who will be released in the next batch,” Benami said. “We assume he’s alive, but we also don’t know what condition he’s in.”
Amit Shani, 16, loved to skate and was an excellent student, family members said. Courtesy of Elle Benami
Shani’s 14-year-old cousin, Ela, also lives in Kibbutz Be’eri, but was able to escape and survive the attack.
Ela Shani said she remembers calling her cousin Amit two days before the October 7 attack and talking about preparing a barbecue.
Ela Shani and her family were able to stay in a “safe room” in their home during the attack. He felt helpless when he read his cousin’s WhatsApp text in which he pleaded for help.
Other teenagers from the Kibbutz also wrote on the text thread, saying their parents were killed by terrorists. Two of Shani’s best friends were also killed.
In a touching video, Ala Shani said his cousin celebrated his 16th anniversary as a Hamas hostage in Gaza.
“Amit is very talented,” said the teenager. “He likes to run, surf. He is an excellent student and he is very smart. Amit is one of the funniest people I have ever met and I always enjoy spending time with him.
“Right now I miss him more than anything. Please help us bring him back to us safely. Bring him back to us alive.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
