This Thursday, a delegation of former hostages held by Hamas in Gaza and their families met with Pope Francis in Rome. They called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of the remaining hostages, and the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza. During the audience, they expressed hope that the incoming and outgoing governments of the United States would cooperate to ensure the return of the still-detained hostages.
Among the released hostages was Yelena Troufanov, whose son remains in captivity in Gaza. During a subsequent press conference, Yelena mentioned significant changes in her son's appearance, who appeared in a recent video released by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad group. The delegation also hopes that the upcoming U.S. administration will collaborate in this process.
The war began with a Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023, which resulted in casualties and hostages. In response, Israel has carried out a military campaign that has led to a large number of deaths in Gaza. This situation has generated a humanitarian crisis, an international debate on possible war crimes, and protests in several countries.
The former hostages and their families shared their experiences and concerns with Pope Francis during the audience in Rome. They expressed wishes for a swift agreement for the release of the remaining hostages, especially before the arrival of winter. Some of the released individuals recounted how the pope listened to their stories with empathy and provided them with messages of hope.
