Moshe’s Mumbai trauma redux in Israel

Hamas has released 13 women and children, as part of a four-day ‘humanitarian pause’ in Gaza that hopes to achieve the swap of 50 hostages for 150 Palestinians in Israeli jails. It is unlikely that any stories of what they really went through will ever emerge, but many Indians’ thoughts will turn to Moshe Holtzberg, the two-year-old Israeli who was saved by his Indian nanny from being murdered by Pakistani terrorists exactly15 years ago in Mumbai: 26 November 2008. [caption id=“attachment_13428832” align=“alignnone” width=“486”] Then picture of Moshe Holtzberg, who was orphaned in the 26/11 attacks. (AP)[/caption] Moshe lost both parents to Islamist terror that day and four other Israelis also died in that attack. Today he lives in a town in northern Israel, not anywhere near the October 7 carnage. But the teenager must have had a sense of déjà vu about that terror though little news emerged about the Israeli children killed by Hamas or left behind orphaned, their parents murdered in front of their eyes like Moshe’s. Many children taken hostage have no one like Sandra to comfort them. The children freed in the first batch—Ohad Monder (aged 9), Emilia Aloni (6), Raz (4) and Aviv (2) Asher were all with their mothers, a blessing in those horrible days of captivity. Unlike Avigail Idan (3), who remains a hostage. Her siblings, aged 10 and 6, escaped capture as they hid in a closet. Avigail was in her father’s arms when both parents were killed. She ran to the next house but was kidnapped from there—all alone—along with a woman and three more children. Avigail is not the only child alone in captivity: Thomas Hand was told his 8-year-old daughter Emily had been killed and said he was “relieved” as she would not have to undergo any ordeal given Hamas’ track record. Now he has been informed Emily may indeed be a hostage. Alone among the terrorists. Imagine his plight: overjoyed she is alive but tormented about her future. Can anyone gauge which of the three—killed, kidnapped or orphaned—is the worse fate? Ariel (4) and Kfir (10 months) were kidnapped along with their parents, Yarden and Shiri Bibas and may be among the next to be released, but as no men are part of the deal, their father will not be freed with them. It is not even known whether he is even held at the same place they are. So freedom may not mean the end of their trauma and pain. The same may be the case with Yahel (3) and Naveh Shoham (8) kidnapped with their parents Adi and Tal and other family. Ella (8) and Dafna (15) Elyakim were taken with their father Noam, his girlfriend Dikla, and her son, Tomer. But the bodies of the other three were found later so the sisters probably witnessed those deaths but are now being held alone. Three-year-old twins Yuli and Emma Cunio, who were taken hostage along with their parents Sharon and David, are maternal cousins of Emilia Aloni released today. If they are freed next with their mother., what about their father? Stories of kids orphaned by terrorists would resonate in India more than many other places, particularly today on the 26/11 anniversary. Like that of two-year-old Almog Levi, whose mother Eynav was killed by Hamas at the site of the desert rave party and his father Or is suspected to be one of those taken hostage. According to several international media reports, the toddler now keeps talking to himself pretending his parents are telling him what to do. The release of a few women and children will not be any comfort for him as his parents are gone. Had Moshe, who was also just two when his parents were shot dead in Mumbai’s Chabad House, not had his doughty nanny Sandra Samuel by his side then and through the months that followed, he too may have become like Almog, looking for familiar faces and voices. Even so, Moshe had nightmares for a long time and clung to Sandra, asking where his parents were. Like Almog, the hostage release will not change anything for 10 month old twins Guy and Roi either as their parents Hadar and Itay Berdichevsky were shot dead in their homes. They lay in their cots for 14 hours before being found by rescuers. Why they were not taken to Gaza by terrorists like many other infants is unclear. It seems the Hamas attackers were given conflicting orders on what to do with children, so some were killed, some kidnapped, some left behind. Israel has not given any specific figures of the number of children among the 1,200 people now estimated to have been killed in the attacks—nor the number left orphaned. Some 40 children, some of them just infants, are said to be among the 240 who were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists. And the Israelis say 16 children lost both parents in the attack and around 100 lost at least one. And then there are children whose parents are now hostages, orphaned too in a way. In comparison, the ability of the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza to give precise numbers of those killed—especially children—is astounding, given the chaos around bombed areas and medical facilities. Ubiquitous cameras film every spot after bombardment and the injured Gazans (especially children) being rushed to hospitals. But there is no query about why so many women and children had remained in the war zone despite repeated Israeli warnings to leave. The first “humanitarian pause” is slated to see the release of just 50 of the 240 hostages in Hamas hands; unless it is extended into a longer ceasefire, of course. As some 40 of them are below the age of 18, it is very likely that the younger children will be the ones let off first, those with their mothers—and maybe those without them too, like Avigail. However, the plight of the teenage boys and girls, possibly the most vulnerable, gives further cause for fear and concern. Moshe is now 17, like many of the older children still being held in Gaza. He has not been in the public eye during this crisis but given that in November 2022 he had exhorted the world to look for ways to counter terror so that nobody ever has to go through what he had, Moshe must be following the hostage release closely like all Israelis and praying everything ends well. [caption id=“attachment_13428852” align=“alignnone” width=“472”] Holtzberg at the inaugural event of the Knesset in Jerusalem. (PTI)[/caption] At the opening of Israel’s newly elected 25th Knesset (Parliament) in 2022, the last lines that Moshe recited from Chapter 122 of the Book of Psalms are very relevant: Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:/ May those who love you be secure./ May there be peace within your walls/and security within your citadels./For the sake of my family and friends,/ I will say, “Peace be within you.”/For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,/I will seek your prosperity. The author is a freelance writer. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_’s views._ Read all the  Latest News,  Trending News,  Cricket News,  Bollywood News, India News and  Entertainment News here. Follow us on  Facebook,  Twitter and  Instagram.