Israel has confirmed the identities of the 11 hostages that were released Monday evening, after 51 days of being held captive by Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The group includes nine children and two mothers.
The Cunio family
Emma Cunio (credit: Hostage and Missing Families Forum)
Sisters Sharon Aloni Cunio, 33, and Danielle Aloni, 44, along with Sharon’s husband David Cunio, 34, were taken hostage when Hamas terrorists invaded southern Israel and attacked Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7.
Sharon and David’s three-year-old twin daughters, Emma and Yuli, and Danielle’s five-year-old daughter Emilia were also taken captive.
The family initially told their relatives that they were safe and that they had sealed themselves inside a safe room as rocket sirens sounded that morning, but they later told relatives that terrorists had entered their home.
Sharon sent a voice message telling them that their house was on fire. Their last communication was at 11:20 a.m.Danielle and her daughter Emilia were released on Friday.
The release of Emma and Yuli is expected. David is still being held captive in Gaza.
The Engel family
Advertisement Mike Engel (credit: Hostage and Missing Families Forum)
Ronen Engel, 54, his wife Karina, 51, and their two daughters, Mika, 18, and Yuval, 10, had been missing since Hamas terrorists attacked Kibbutz Nir Oz on the morning of October 7.
The family hid in a safe room and their calls to relatives indicated they were aware of the horrific rampage taking place in their kibbutz.
While on a phone call with her sister, Paula, Karina suddenly mentioned the terrorists’ presence and then the call cut out. That was their last communication.
A video from Gaza was posted to Ronen’s Facebook page later that day and the family’s phones were traced to Gaza.
Mika volunteers with special needs children and Yuval enjoys horseback riding. Both sisters share a love of animals.
Eitan Yahalomi
Eitan Yahalomi. (credit: Hostage and Missing Families Forum)
Twelve-year-old Eitan Yahalomi was kidnapped with his father, Ohad, from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Eitan’s mother, Bat Sheva, said that when the terrorists entered the community they tried to kidnap her and her children while they were riding on motorcycles.
With great resourcefulness, she managed to jump off the motorcycle along with her two daughters, 10 and nine months, but she was unable to save her son.
Bat Sheva said she is fearful that Eitan won’t be the same once he returns. He is a keen Manchester City supporter and has a poster of star player Phil Foden on his wall.
Ohad remains in captivity.
The Calderon family
Erez Calderon (credit: Hostage and Missing Families Forum)
Three members of the Calderon family had been missing from Kibbutz Nir Oz since October 7. Ofer, 53, and two of his children, Sahar, 16, and Erez, 12, were taken hostage when Hamas terrorists attacked the kibbutz, killing over 100 residents and taking around 80 hostages.
Gaya Calderon, 21, the older sister of Sahar and Erez, received a message from her family that they were trying to hide outside but later saw a video of Erez being taken away by terrorists.
The Yaakov family
Yagil Yaakov (credit: Hostage and Missing Families Forum)
Brothers Or Yaakov, 16, and Yagil Yaakov, 12, were sleeping alone at their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz when Hamas terrorists attacked on the morning of October 7.
The two boys hid in a safe room and called their mother, whispering to her on the phone.
When the terrorists entered their home, Or tried to hold the door of the safe room closed but was overpowered.
On November 9, Yagil Yaakov was shown in a propaganda video posted by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorist organization.
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