Families of Israeli hostages still in Gaza call on Trump, Biden to work together

“We hope Biden and Trump work together now to get the hostages back, before the winter … it has been so tough for them, they cannot be expected to wait another winter,” said Sharon Lifshitz.

Lifshitz’s mother, Yocheved, was freed in October last year while her father, Oded, is still captive. “This is not about the left and right, all people should come together,” she said.

Norberto Louis Har, who was freed in February by the Israeli armed forces, told reporters he did not care about the political camps but only that those still held were released.

The Vatican said that some of the participants in the meeting with Pope Francis showed him posters with photos of their relatives, which also included their names and ages.

“The pope has been very kind to us … he has promised to continue pray for our people, to continue to pray for each and everyone of the hostages,” Lifshitz said.

So far, 117 hostages have returned home alive, including four released at the start of the war. Thirty-seven have been dead. That leaves 101 hostages still in Gaza by Israeli tallies, at least half of whom Israeli authorities believe are still alive.