‘Not knowing’ plunges the families of Israel’s missing into a limbo of pain and numbness
By LAURIE KELLMAN, DANICA KIRKA, JOCELYN NOVECK and LORI HINNANT
Associated Press
LONDON (AP) — The families of Israel’s missing after Hamas’ Oct. 7 massacre say they’re stuck in a limbo of pain and numbness, and without much information. The Associated Press has documented more than 250 people who disappeared during the attacks, which killed more than 1,400 people in Israel. Of those, around 140 are confirmed as likely hostages, whether by witnesses who saw them being taken away by Hamas militants, army information given to families, or by their appearances on social media posted by Hamas. Rescuing the hostages is complicated by Israel’s siege of Gaza. Identifying the dead also is taking time due to the condition of many of the bodies.