OTTAWA — The son of a Canadian woman believed to be among those held hostage by Hamas in Gaza wants the world to push for an end to the fighting, and says he fears Israel's escalating offensive could end all chance of bringing his mother safely home.
His mother, Vivian Silver, is one of an estimated 229 hostages taken by Hamas during its bloody Oct. 7 rampage in Israel.
Silver was a volunteer for groups that strive for peace with Palestinians and that help Gaza residents access medical care, and Zeigen says those contacts have shared information that makes him believe she was taken hostage. Tanks and infantry pushed into Gaza over the weekend as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced the start of a"second stage" in the war. Increased bombardments have cut off most telecommunications access for the territory's 2.3 million residents, though these are starting to be restored.
Over the weekend, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said Hamas had to be forced to the negotiating table, but Zeigen said that' amounts to"vengeance," and he wants the world to pressure his country to change course.Zeigen noted Hamas"took the prisoners as leverage, and if they lose that leverage, then they don't have use for them anymore."
"I don't really talk … to the Israeli press because I see a lot of poison being directed at her because of her activities," he said. Hamas' top leader in Gaza, Yehia Sinwar, said Palestinian fighters"are ready immediately'' to release all hostages if Israel releases all of the thousands of Palestinians held in its prisons.
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