"I'm not prepared to give up yet": The captives remaining in Gaza
Or Neko Maymon posts in Hebrew on Facebook, arguing that "She shouldn't be forced to await the next agreement, simply because she isn't anyone's mother or grandmother."
Alternatively, the discussion could be about Inbar Haiman, a 27-year-old street artist and art student, who happens to be the sister of his partner.
Inbar was abducted by Hamas at the Supernova music event in Israel on October 7, and she was visible a few days afterward in a hostage footage shared on social media, showing signs of injury on her face.
She is among the 16 females that BBC Verify has recognized as remaining captives in Gaza, subsequent to a week-long truce between Israel and Hamas. This temporary halt in violence led Hamas to consent to the liberation of 110 captives (including 78 women and kids), in exchange for the release of 240 Palestinian inmates from Israeli prisons.
The emphasis Israel places on freeing female captives has alternately lifted and crushed the expectations of those family members whose women remain captive.
Ever since Inbar was abducted, her loved ones and acquaintances have been actively advocating for her freedom. They've been utilizing the hashtag #FreePink, which pertains to her pseudonym as a street artist.
"Frankly, I'm not prepared for you to remove my expectation of seeing Inbar return," Or expressed in a different post three days prior.
In November, Inbar's significant other, Noam Alon, who is 24 years old, staged a 10-day protest outside the main military base in Tel Aviv. He was demanding the Israeli government to put in more efforts to facilitate Inbar's release.
During the attacks on October 7, Hamas and five other Palestinian militant groups held 237 people hostage. BBC News was able to confirm that 115 of those individuals are still in Gaza. According to a representative from the Israeli government, there are still 135 hostages. There's no available official list of hostages, so the BBC has taken it upon themselves to verify the names.
The remaining captives include no less than 16 females and 95 males. This count also accounts for Orión Hernández Radoux, a French-Mexican national, who happens to be the partner of 22-year-old Shani Louk. Louk tragically lost her life following her abduction from the Supernova music fest.
Shortly after the festival was assaulted, a video featuring the corpse of a young lady being displayed in the streets started gaining traction on social media. Shani's relatives could recognize her in the video due to her unique dreadlocks and tattoos.
Towards the end of October, Shani's mom, Ricarda, revealed that the Israeli military had informed her they discovered a fragment of her daughter's skull. However, Shani's remains have still not been retrieved.
In November, her partner Orión celebrated his 31st birthday while imprisoned.
"Today marks Orión's birthday," penned Gabriel De la Fuente, a close family friend, on Facebook in Spanish, "It's been a month since his abduction, here's praying for his safe return."
It is speculated that Orión was abducted during the festival. The Sun newspaper claims to have viewed menacing texts in Arabic sent from his mobile.
Every evening at 7pm, his loved ones gather for a group prayer on a WhatsApp group, which was set up to provide mutual support.
Gabriel pens, "It is only through collective prayer that we can offer the spiritual fortitude and backing that your soul currently requires, regardless of its location."
Gil Dickmann mentions that families anticipating the return of their captive relatives have increasingly become pillars of strength for one another. His cousin, Carmel Gat, has been held captive since October 7.
"He articulated to the BBC News channel that they evolved into a genuine, extensive family unit. He conveyed a sentiment that, when their kin are being freed, it's as if his are also being liberated."
Carmel, a 39-year-old occupational therapist based in Tel Aviv, was spending time with her parents in Be'eri on the 7th of October.
Yarden Roman-Gat, her sister-in-law, was freed by Hamas on Wednesday and brought back together with her spouse and three-year-old daughter.
"Gil confesses that he was uncertain about Yarden's existence until he laid eyes on her."
Gil describes how the 36-year-old woman of German-Israeli descent, along with her spouse and child, were abducted. However, they were able to escape from their captors' vehicle in the vicinity of the Gaza-Israel border.
The family started fleeing as shots were fired at them. Yarden, understanding she couldn't keep up the pace, handed her child to her spouse and gave herself up, providing the rest an opportunity to get away.
"Gil expressed extreme joy upon seeing her,"
However, now that the truce has ended, Gil's fear for his cousin Carmel, who still hasn't returned home, continues to intensify.
"Gil expresses his severe anxiety over the termination of the ceasefire," he says. "I'm deeply concerned about her safety on a personal level."
Numerous individuals with family or friends held captive in Gaza have been utilizing social media to advocate for their freedom, express their emotions, and provide mutual comfort in their shared sorrow.
The American captive, Hersh Goldberg-Polin's mother, has been sharing videos where she discusses her son on the family's Bring Hersh Home Facebook page.
"Last night, I woke up at 2:13 am and I felt the need to let you know about it," Rachel shared with the 17,000 subscribers of the Facebook page on Wednesday. "I began contemplating the extent of Hersh's suffering."
Based on accounts from individuals who saw the incident, Rachel reported that Hersh had his arm partially amputated due to a grenade blast prior to his abduction.
Observers reported seeing a 23-year-old Californian being forcibly placed onto a truck along with others who had been abducted from the Supernova festival, according to information provided to the Los Angeles Times by his family. He was severely wounded and not responsive, as per the accounts of the onlookers, and his most recent phone signal placed him near the Gaza border.
Rachel emphasized in her recent video that it's crucial for him to return home to begin learning to adapt to a drastically changed lifestyle compared to what he was accustomed to.
This is simply another motive for us to persistently and ceaselessly battle for his return home.
Further reporting was done by Emma Pengelly.
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