Hamas hostages: Kidnapped mum planned to celebrate birthday in UK

Sharone Lifschitz (left) and Noam Sagi both had parents kidnapped by Hamas near the Gaza border on October 7

A Briton whose mother was kidnapped by Hamas says he should have been celebrating her birthday with her this week.

Noam Sagi's mother, Ada Sagi, was taken hostage in the kibbutz of Nir Oz, near Israel's border with Gaza.

"These are peace-loving people who fought all their lives for good neighbouring relationships," he said.

Hamas launched an assault on Israel last week, killing at least 1,300 and taking around 150 hostages to Gaza.

Israel has carried out waves of air and artillery strikes on Gaza in response, in which more than 1,300 Palestinians have also been killed.

Speaking at a press conference in London, Mr Sagi said he was in a "luxury position" to "be able to sit here and worry" about his mother.

He described the situation as "heartbreaking", adding that he was working to ensure that all civilians being held were released.

"They need to be back home now - I'm talking about civilians, especially every kid under 18, every elder person over 65," he said.

Mr Sagi was speaking alongside Sharone Lifschitz, whose parents were also kidnapped from Nir Oz. She said her community had faced an "act of such barbarity".

"These are the children that we all know - the children of our friends," she said of those taken, adding that she wanted to act as a voice for the hostages.

"This is horrific - there are people that are there counting the bodies, supporting the survivors."

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She said her priority was to ensure all civilians taken hostage would be returned safely.

Both Mr Sagi and Ms Lifschitz grew up in Nir Oz, and described its strong sense of community.

"I think there will be time to bury the dead - I think there will be time to decide what to do with the place," Ms Lifschitz said of Nir Oz, which is about 400m from the Gaza border, adding that she had spoken to her brother who "did not see a way for us to go back there".

"They have eradicated the place," she said. "We have to fight for those we can still save - the place is gone, the dead are dead."

Hamas says it has hidden people it has kidnapped in "safe places and tunnels" within Gaza, and has threatened to kill the hostages if civilian homes are bombed by Israel without warning.

Energy minister Israel Katz has warned no "electrical switch will be turned on, no water hydrant will be opened and no fuel truck will enter" Gaza until the "abductees" are free.

On Wednesday, the only power station in Gaza ran out of fuel, meaning the territory is relying on generators.

Hospitals in Gaza risk turning into morgues without electricity, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has warned.

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