
Family of freed Israeli hostages on loved ones still held
Clip: 11/27/2023 | 4m 48sVideo has Closed Captions
Family of freed Israeli hostages discusses release and loved ones still held in Gaza
So far, about 70 hostages have been released by Hamas over four days of a cease-fire and as many as 175 people remain held in Gaza. Dori Roberts has family members in both situations. His cousin and her two daughters were just released, but other loved ones remain held hostage. Roberts joined Amna Nawaz to discuss the latest.
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Family of freed Israeli hostages on loved ones still held
Clip: 11/27/2023 | 4m 48sVideo has Closed Captions
So far, about 70 hostages have been released by Hamas over four days of a cease-fire and as many as 175 people remain held in Gaza. Dori Roberts has family members in both situations. His cousin and her two daughters were just released, but other loved ones remain held hostage. Roberts joined Amna Nawaz to discuss the latest.
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Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipAMNA NAWAZ: So far, about 70 hostages have been released by Hamas over four days of a cease-fire, and as many as 175 people remain held in Gaza.
We turn to someone with family members in both situations.
Dori Roberts is the cousin of Doron Katz-Asher, who was just freed by Hamas, along with her two daughters, Raz, who is 4, and Aviv, who is 2.
But Dori's aunt, Doron's mother, Efrat Katz, was killed by Hamas en route to Gaza.
And Efrat's partner, Gadi Moses, and another of Dori's cousins, Ravid Katz, remained held hostage.
Dori Roberts joins us now.
Dori, let's just begin with what a bittersweet moment this must be for you and your family.
But let's start with Doron and Raz and Aviv, who were released.
How are they doing?
What can you tell us?
DORI ROBERTS, Family Member of Hamas Hostages: Well, I think you can see on my smile.
That is, they're doing much better.
They're surrounded by family and by loved ones.
They're back in home.
They're back in their home now after medical examinations and after surrounding themselves with the medical teams, mental health workers, social workers, and, of course, family.
They're very delighted to be home.
They're doing well.
They're undergoing, after 50 days at the hostages, all of them have been held by the Hamas as hostages.
And they're finally home and they're safe.
And this is why we're trying to provide them that safety and that hugging, loving family care that they will need from now until -- for quite a while, until they're fully recovered.
AMNA NAWAZ: Could they share anything with you about their time in captivity?
Were they hurt?
Were they fed?
How they were treated?
DORI ROBERTS: We're learning more they will tell about their time in -- helping captive, where food was very, very minimal to pretty much tin cans and canned food, wherever they could, some beans and chickpeas, dried pitas, and water.
Maybe spent an hour max at daylight.
And they had some medication provided to them, but not something you can really exist and have nutrition is, of course, based on that.
So we're trying to provide them all that back now, especially for the kids who suffered from a lot of those crucial nutrients and food that they need to just to grow and to be healthy, normal kids.
They're receiving all that right now back in Israel and we're so happy that they're finally home.
We have to make sure that all that time that they're staying down there under the tunnels, it's been really dark, and they're kept in groups.
I don't know how much.
There are some rumors about five or six groups in one cell with heavy guards.
So that is pretty intimidating for 2 years old, a 5 years old.
And their mother took upon herself to keep them safe and keep them protected as much as she could.
AMNA NAWAZ: We are so sorry for your loss, Dori.
I can't imagine what these children in particular have seen.
At the same time, I have to ask.
One of the stated goals of Hamas on the day they attacked, on October 7, was to release Palestinians who were held by Israel, which is now happening as part of the hostage release deal.
Do you support that, especially if it means more of your loved ones could come home?
DORI ROBERTS: I think, overall, after so many days of ongoing war, I think that it was time to take a break and return those hostages back from the Hamas.
I think the deal, to my view, is fair.
All those Palestinian people were evacuated from their homes and fled to Southern Gaza got a relief of food and clothes, fuel, electricity, and the prisoners who were held by Israel were released back to the Palestinian authorities.
And we saw some unpleasant images from there of their going straight back to the hands of the Hamas, and some of them are even paying for their own lives, being accused as spies and whatnot.
So it's sad to see it, but we do value life, and we do appreciate, like, the return of our loved ones.
And I think there is no big price to pay.
We have to bring them back.
AMNA NAWAZ: Dori Roberts, we thank you so much for joining us tonight.
We're glad your family is somewhat reunited.
We hope everyone else is home with you soon.
Thank you again.
DORI ROBERTS: Thank you so much.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipMajor corporate funding for the PBS News Hour is provided by BDO, BNSF, Consumer Cellular, American Cruise Lines, and Raymond James. Funding for the PBS NewsHour Weekend is provided by...