DENVER — One girl's mother is on the verge of dying from brain cancer. One man missed the birth of his child. Another man turned 79 in captivity.
These are stories of some the people who remain hostages in Gaza, who were kidnapped in Israel on Oct. 7.
Relatives of some of the hostages recently came to Denver from Israel to seek help getting their release. The families had no political message. The only thing they want is to bring the hostages home.
"The only thing that matters right now is to bring all the 136 hostages back home dead, or alive," a relative told 9NEWS.
These are their stories:
NOA ARGAMANI
Family learned Noa Argamani was kidnapped, because Hamas posted a video showing her capture. Noa's mom has terminal brain cancer.
"Our last wish is to hug Noa, before she dies," Ravid Ohad, Argamani's cousin, told 9NEWS, "Our time is running out, both for Noa and for her mother. We are fighting against two clocks."
Argamani went to a music festival with her boyfriend and has been in captivity since. Her family also said they have been subjected to psychological terror from Hamas, when they published a movie with Argamani and other hostages. At the end of the video, Hamas promised a second video in 24 hours to show what happened.
"It was 24 hours that you cannot imagine. We thought about the worst," Ohad said.
In the second video, Argamani said the other two hostages she was with were killed.
About 400 people were reportedly killed or kidnapped at the Nova music festival. Israeli authorities continue to investigate reports of sexual assaults committed by Hamas at Nova and elsewhere on Oct. 7.
OFER KALDERON
On October 7, Hamas kidnapped Ofer Kalderon and his two kids. The children have since been released, but their father remains in captivity.
"We're doing whatever we can, whatever we think can help to bring him back home. So, I'm here now. I came to Colorado. I came to the United States, to ask people: Help us," Sharon Kalderon, Ofer's sister in-law said.
The kids were released in an earlier deal after 52 days.
"They're not okay. I don't know if they'll be okay some day," Sharon Kalderon said, "But they cannot start healing without their father."
DOLEV YEHUD
Dolev Yehud is a trained medic.
As people got alerts to shelter from rockets on October 7, Yehud heard screams for help. He went outside, and Hamas terrorists took him, his relative told 9NEWS.
"He went, and they just took him. They kidnapped him," Sarig Sela, his relative, told 9NEWS.
While he's been in captivity, Yehud's wife gave birth to a boy. He has not been able to meet his new baby, their fourth child.
Family worries about his health, as he has a chronic illness that requires medication.
"Because when you talk to their father, and you see the pain in his eyes, so you cannot say no," Sarif Sela, told 9NEWS.
Yehud's sister, Arbel Yehud, and her boyfriend, Ariel Cunio, were also taken hostage.
AVRAHAM MUNDER
On Oct. 7, Hamas took Avraham Munder hostage. His family said terrorists took him on a motorcycle to the Gaza strip, and they have not heard how he is doing.
When he was taken, they said Munder fell and was injured. They are worried about his health while being held hostage.
"We know nothing," Mano Mor, his great-nephew said.
Munder turned 79 while in captivity.
"Life does not go on. If someone can make him disappear for more than 120 days, then the whole fabric of society is fractured. This is our call here. Free the hostages ASAP, as soon as possible," said Zahiro Mor, Munder's nephew.
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