Israeli soldiers walk among the pictures of people taken captive or killed by Hamas militants during the Supernova music festival on October 7, at the site where the deadly incident took place near Kibbutz Reim in southern Israel. AFP
Israeli soldiers walk among the pictures of people taken captive or killed by Hamas militants during the Supernova music festival on October 7, at the site where the deadly incident took place near Kibbutz Reim in southern Israel. AFP
Israeli soldiers walk among the pictures of people taken captive or killed by Hamas militants during the Supernova music festival on October 7, at the site where the deadly incident took place near Kibbutz Reim in southern Israel. AFP
Israeli soldiers walk among the pictures of people taken captive or killed by Hamas militants during the Supernova music festival on October 7, at the site where the deadly incident took place near Ki

Israeli student whose family was taken hostage says 'killing Palestinians' not a solution


Anjana Sankar
  • English
  • Arabic

An Israeli student who had three of her family members killed and six others kidnapped by Hamas is calling for a peaceful political solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, saying that “killing more Palestinians will not bring peace to Israel.”

Shira Havron, 28, said despite the violence and trauma inflicted by the militant group, her family's message is that “this war is horrific," and that only equal rights for everyone will guarantee peace.

“It is awful to see innocent civilians and children being killed in Gaza. Everyone deserves human rights. This killing of more Palestinians will never work. It has never worked,” Ms Havron told The National.

A total 11 members of her family initially went missing after October 7 when Hamas launched the ‘Al Aqsa Flood’ attack on Israel, killing around 1,200 people, mostly civilians.

Ms Havron, who was on holiday in London that weekend, said she was able to stay in touch with her family members for some time, but soon lost contact.

Later, it was found that three members of her family including her uncle were murdered by Hamas. Six other relatives, including Ms Havron's cousin Adi Shoham, 38, Adi's husband Taal, and their two kids, Nave, 8, and Yahel, 3, were kidnapped from Kibbutz Be'eri, which lies only five kilometres from the Gaza border.

Shira Havron's three family members were killed and six others taken hostage by Hamas on October 7
Shira Havron's three family members were killed and six others taken hostage by Hamas on October 7

Five of the family members including Ms Shoham and her two kids returned on Sunday as part of the Qatar-negotiated truce and hostage release deal between Israel and Hamas. But Taal remains in Gaza.

“We got a gift,” Ms Havron said of her family’s safe release while dozens of hostages are still in Gaza, their fate unknown, as the war has resumed with grave intensity.

Gazans don't deserve to be killed

Israel announced it hit over 400 targets since the truce ended on Friday, which resulted in the killing of 200 people in Gaza.

Ms Havron said it is difficult for the family to celebrate while Taal is in Gaza. “There is no closure yet until he is back along with everyone else.”

She is caught in the midst of the gruelling emotional battle to bring home the hostages. She even travelled to Brussels to speak at rallies and meet EU parliamentarians to push for a speedy release of the hostages.

Ms Shoham says she is aware of the causes of Palestinian resistance but she condemns violence.

“I know what Hamas did. I know the Palestinian resistance and why they are doing it. But there is a difference between resistance and violence. What they did on October 7 was not resistance.”

In the same breath, she emphasised that civilians in Gaza, especially children, “should be the last ones to get killed in this war.”

“We do not want anyone in Gaza to endure this death and misery. As a family, it is important for me to say that we stand for peace.”

“What we want is a political and peaceful solution and not a military solution to the crisis. That is the only way forward.”

Ron Sherman,19, an Israeli soldier who was taken hostage, has severe asthma and his mother fears he does not have access to medication in Gaza.
Ron Sherman,19, an Israeli soldier who was taken hostage, has severe asthma and his mother fears he does not have access to medication in Gaza.

Mother worries for asthmatic son

Over the past week as guns fell silent, Hamas released 80 Israeli women, children and teenagers as part of a truce agreement in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli jails. Hamas also released 25 others including Thai workers.

But with the war resuming, the fate of more than 120 Israeli hostages is hanging in the balance, and families say they feel helpless.

Among those holding their breath is Maayan Sherman whose son Ron Sherman, 19, a soldier in the Israeli army, was taken hostage while he was sleeping at his base.

Ms Sherman said Ron has severe asthma and she fears he does not have access to his inhaler.

"I do not know how he will survive in a tunnel without his medication," Ms Sherman, a veterinary doctor, told The National.

As the Israel-Hamas truce deal involved women, children and the elderly, Ms Sherman said she did not even have the room to hope for his release.

"I know they will not release him as he is a soldier. He is a strong and positive person. I know he is good at dealing with any situation. That is my only strength," she said.

She explained that she feels helpless and unable to think. "I want this war to end and my son to come back. All we can do is protest and pressure the government to bring the hostages home."

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if you go

The flights

Etihad and Emirates fly direct from the UAE to Seoul from Dh3,775 return, including taxes

The package

Ski Safari offers a seven-night ski package to Korea, including five nights at the Dragon Valley Hotel in Yongpyong and two nights at Seoul CenterMark hotel, from £720 (Dh3,488) per person, including transfers, based on two travelling in January

The info

Visit www.gokorea.co.uk

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Director: Laxman Utekar

Cast: Vicky Kaushal, Akshaye Khanna, Diana Penty, Vineet Kumar Singh, Rashmika Mandanna

Rating: 1/5

Squid Game season two

Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk 

Stars:  Lee Jung-jae, Wi Ha-joon and Lee Byung-hun

Rating: 4.5/5

WITHIN%20SAND
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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Tips to stay safe during hot weather
  • Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
  • Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
  • Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
  • Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
  • Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
  • Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
  • Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
  • Premier League-standard football pitch
  • 400m Olympic running track
  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
  • 600-seat auditorium
  • Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
  • An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
  • Specialist robotics and science laboratories
  • AR and VR-enabled learning centres
  • Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills

Personalities on the Plate: The Lives and Minds of Animals We Eat

Barbara J King, University of Chicago Press 

WHEN TO GO:

September to November or March to May; this is when visitors are most likely to see what they’ve come for.

WHERE TO STAY:

Meghauli Serai, A Taj Safari - Chitwan National Park resort (tajhotels.com) is a one-hour drive from Bharatpur Airport with stays costing from Dh1,396 per night, including taxes and breakfast. Return airport transfers cost from Dh661.

HOW TO GET THERE:

Etihad Airways regularly flies from Abu Dhabi to Kathmandu from around Dh1,500 per person return, including taxes. Buddha Air (buddhaair.com) and Yeti Airlines (yetiairlines.com) fly from Kathmandu to Bharatpur several times a day from about Dh660 return and the flight takes just 20 minutes. Driving is possible but the roads are hilly which means it will take you five or six hours to travel 148 kilometres.

 

 

Updated: December 02, 2023, 4:44 PM`