Ayelet Svatitzky, a British-Israeli woman, has shared her distress with the BBC over the uncertain fate of her diabetic mother, Channah Peri, 79, and brother, Nadav Popplewell, 51. Both were taken hostage by Hamas during an attack on their kibbutz in southern Israel on 7 October. Tragically, another brother, Roi, 54, was killed during the assault. Ayelet has urged the UK government to exert “everything in its power” to ensure their safe return.
Disturbingly, on the day of the attack, Ayelet received two images sent by the attackers from her mother’s phone, showing Channah and Nadav in her mother’s living room with the word “Hamas” written in English. A subsequent image posted on Channah’s Facebook depicted them with an armed Hamas gunman.
Ayelet’s concerns are heightened by the medical needs of her family members. Both her mother and brother are diabetic, requiring daily insulin and medication, respectively. The inability to get the Red Cross to provide medication or updates on their condition has added to the family’s anguish.
The family’s grief is compounded by the fact that Roi’s body has yet to be officially identified, and they have not been able to hold a burial. Ayelet emphasized the need for the British government’s intervention, stating, “Taking the elderly people and young children, it’s a war crime as far as I’m concerned. These are innocent people, they haven’t harmed anyone.”
Another British-Israeli, Ofri Bibas Levy, is living a nightmare after her brother Yarden, his wife Shiri, and their two young children were taken hostage from their home in Nir Oz. The family has received no communication from them since their abduction. Ofri’s concerns revolve around the well-being of the children, especially the nine-month-old Kfir, who had just started crawling and consuming formula food.
David Barr, a British-Israeli residing in a kibbutz that was attacked, lost his sister-in-law Naomi, who was killed by Hamas while jogging. He conveyed a clear message to the British government, emphasizing the moral responsibility to bring home the hostages.
The British government, through Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick, has indicated that they are “working intensively with all our partners across the region” to secure the release of the British nationals held by Hamas.