Families of Hamas hostages call for help from European Parliament

Relatives of Israelis kidnapped by Hamas militants more than a month ago came to the European Parliament on Wednesday to call for help.

Transcript

00:00 It`s been more than a month since at least 245 people in Israel were taken hostages by

00:06 Hamas. Shai Venkert is one of the family members that visited the European Parliament on Wednesday,

00:12 asking the EU to help bring their beloved back home.

00:18 This is my son that is beating, slaughtered and the gun pointed at him. He`s with handcuffs,

00:27 but he`s still looking at the camera like he`s angry. Don`t beat me. I`m handcuffed.

00:33 Omer is 22 years old. He`s a very handsome, very beautiful boy. He only went to a party,

00:41 to a fest, to the Nova Fest, to celebrate happiness and freedom and love.

00:48 Four more family members of hostages are at the European Parliament to ask for more international

00:52 and European pressure for the release of the hostages.

00:55 Between them, Yoni Asher is really anxious for his wife and his two daughters, who are

01:02 still being kept as hostages of Hamas. His mother-in-law was also taken. She was murdered

01:07 that day by Hamas. All of them are European citizens. He described to Euronews what brought

01:12 him to Brussels.

01:13 I couldn`t do anything. I was helpless. I had nothing to do besides fall down on the

01:26 floor. But after not long ago, I decided it`s either fight for the life of my family or

01:38 die. So, I have only -- not two choices. I have only one choice.

01:45 Despite his pain, Yoni finds words to tell the children in Gaza, too.

01:54 You know something? If the son, the one who got kidnapped, my babies, if his son or daughter,

02:02 little daughter or son, was right here next to me right now, you know what I would do?

02:07 I would hug them and kiss them. You know why? Because children are children. But what would

02:13 you do instead of me? What would you do if your children were kidnapped from their grandmother`s

02:18 living room? Would you not use any mean you have in order to get them back, to save their

02:25 lives?

02:26 Shah and Yoni support the decisions of the Israeli government`s actions in Gaza. But

02:31 some other relatives are asking the government to start negotiations with Hamas.

02:35 Shona Murray, your news, Brussels.

02:37 (radio chatter)

02:40 (whooshing)