85-Year-Old Holocaust Survivor Among Hostages Taken by Hamas: ‘We’re Scared,’ Family Says

Among the 100 or so Israeli citizens kidnapped by Hamas during the terrorist organization’s attack on the Holy Land was an 85-year-old Holocaust survivor who her family says desperately needs her medicines.

Yaffa Adar, 85, was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists and taken to Gaza during the Oct. 7 attack on the nation, says her granddaughter. 

“She’s an amazing woman, an amazing grandmother,” Adva Adar, her granddaughter, told Sky News. “She’s a very positive, very funny woman. She likes to enjoy her life.”

The death toll in Israel topped 1,000 Monday as Israel’s military continued its siege of Gaza, looking for terrorists. It’s been 50 years since Israel has been involved in a war of this magnitude. That was the Yom Kippur War. 

The granddaughter described her grandmother as a compassionate woman who takes care of her family. 

A video of the kidnapping has circulated on social media. In it, Yaffa Adar is sitting in a golf cart, smiling. The granddaughter described her grandmother as a calm woman. 

“In the video, you see her [looking] very strong,” the granddaughter said.

“I don’t know if there is any word that can describe” the emotions the family feels, Adva Adar said. “We were shocked. It hurts in every inch of our bodies. We’re very scared for her. 

“She’s ill, and, of course, she doesn’t have her medicine with her. And we don’t even know how long can she survive without her medicine. What we do know is that without her medicine, she is in a lot of pain.

“Hopefully, she’s alive, but she’s suffering every minute. We’re scared for her.”

Yaffa Adar was an innocent person who “needs to come back home,” the granddaughter said. 

“There’s no reason in the world that an elderly woman and kids and babies [should] get kidnapped,” she said. “Bring them back home.” 

Photo Courtesy: ©Getty Images/CasarsaGuru

Video Credit: Times Radio via YouTube


Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chroniclethe Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.

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