A Father's Day Plea: My Child Has Become A Number In Hamas's Hell

For 614 days — 614 endless days and nights — my boy Segev has been held captive successful nan underground tunnels of Gaza, a captive of Hamas terrorists who stole him from the Nova euphony festival connected that horrific October 7 morning. 

He was 1 of 251 hostages taken, and today, 55 stay successful captivity successful Gaza.

I americium asking you to ideate thing nary genitor should ever person to contemplate: How would you consciousness if your child—whom you raised, protected, and loved each time of their life—was trapped successful nan hands of monsters? How would you header knowing your boy is suffering torture, some beingness and psychological, starving successful acheronian while you helplessly count each passing hour? 

Segev is my mediate son. He is funny, sharp, smart and compassionate. He worked alongside maine successful our family bakery. 

FORMER ISRAELI HOSTAGE HAS MESSAGE OF THANKS FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP: 'I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL'

Segev Kalfon, 27, was kidnapped from nan Nova show connected Oct. 7, 2023 by Hamas terrorists. (Kalfon family)

On October 7, he went to nan Nova show pinch his friend Asaf. We were successful regular interaction pinch Segev erstwhile nan rocket alerts began. We told him to travel location immediately, and he reassured my woman and I that location was thing to interest about. We didn't moreover deliberation terrorists were involved—just alerts that would walk for illustration they ever do.

Despite watching nan Sabbath, we turned connected nan tv to understand what was happening, and that's erstwhile I saw nan horrors unfolding connected nan news. I called Segev to pass him astir the violent infiltration, and I could perceive him moving while he said location was gunfire and that he would return to america later. That was nan past clip I heard his voice.

I rushed to a infirmary down southbound and recovered complete chaos, pinch wounded group arriving from nan party. I was desperately asking everyone if they had seen Segev, praying I mightiness find him among nan injured alternatively than look what I was opening to fear. Then they called maine location because Asaf had returned pinch devastating news—he had witnessed Segev being kidnapped.

They tried to flight together. They ran done nan fields, and successful a split-second determination that would alteration everything, Segev chose to transverse nan roadworthy while Asaf hid successful adjacent bushes. Asaf watched helplessly arsenic terrorists captured my boy and threw him into their vehicle.

My boy is still there. 

Kobi Kalfon pinch his boy Segev during happier times. Segev has been held hostage by Hamas successful Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023. (Kalfon family)

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A mates of months ago, a hostage who spent clip pinch Segev successful captivity reached retired to us. At first, he described nan adjacent bonds that formed betwixt nan hostages and really they managed to observe nan Sabbath together connected Fridays. But arsenic we talked longer, nan unspeakable reality of what they endured began to aboveground - systematic torture, deliberate starvation, relentless psychological abuse. 

Every greeting I aftermath up successful dread. Every nighttime I dishonesty awake imagining my boy crying retired successful that underground hell, wondering if anyone tin perceive him. I want him to cognize that he must clasp on, moreover though it's incredibly difficult. We are group of faith. I believe that he tin look up, raise his head, and find spot for his soul. I request him to proceed being strong.

My family is connected nan separator of sanity. Since Segev was kidnapped, we haven’t stopped fighting to bring him home. We participate successful demonstrations, meet pinch decision-makers and activity to raise nationalist consciousness astir his business and that of nan different hostages. We cannot relax for moreover a moment. How tin we? 

We marked Segev's 27th day this past January — his 2nd day successful captivity. How do you observe erstwhile your kid is trapped successful darkness?

We trust connected you. We request world – and specifically American involvement. Thanks to President Donald Trump, himself a begetter who understands nan ineffable enslaved betwixt genitor and child, we person seen galore hostages return home. Because of Trump and his administration, I watched galore families reunite. Many friends of mine, who complete nan past twelvemonth and much person go for illustration 1 large family, are embracing their loved ones again.

A bring them location necklace pinch a yellowish ribbon pin during a tribute to nan victims of nan Oct. 7, 2023 panic onslaught connected Israel by Hamas, connected Oct. 6, 2024. (Getty Images)

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President Trump accomplished thing impossible. But tragically, months person passed since those hostages returned, fighting has intensified, and this puts nan remaining hostages successful moreover greater danger. We perceive testimonies astir nan intolerable conditions successful which nan hostages are held, astir aesculapian neglect, and nan maltreatment they experience. The knowledge that Segev is live gives maine hope, but besides deepens my despair. Just reasoning astir him and nan others who stay trapped successful that hellhole becomes its ain shape of torture. 

To each begetter reference this: ideate really you would feel, really you would header — knowing your son, your child, is held captive by terrorists. Undergoing torture. How would you negociate to past tomorrow? I americium Segev’s father. I will ne'er extremity being his father.  

I will ne'er extremity fighting for him.

I don't wish these feelings connected immoderate parent. I americium begging you: don't move distant from our pain. Don't fto these 55 hostages go forgotten numbers. Segev is not conscionable a statistic—he is my son.

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This Father's Day, arsenic you clasp your children, retrieve mine. Think of nan 55 who person been trapped successful violent tunnels for much than 600 days. Their clip is moving out. My boy and 54 others are waiting for america to bring them home. They are waiting for nan world to retrieve that they are not numbers—they are beloved children whose fathers will never, ever extremity fighting for their return.