A Whole Family Brutally Abducted to Gaza

Abbey Onn is one of many Israelis who have barely slept since Saturday, after finding out their treasured loved ones have been kidnapped by the barbaric terrorist group Hamas.

Onn is absolutely desperate to find out what has happened to five members of her family; her cousins, 80-year-old Carmela Dan, who was taken, along with son-in-law Ofer Kalderon, 50, and three of her grandchildren who were living with her–Sahar Kalderon 16; Noya Dan, 13; and Erez Kalderon, 12.

“This is a horrific nightmare I so wish I could wake up from,” she told Aish.com in an interview. “It’s unprecedented and unfathomable that this could have happened. I just want them home safe.”

Onn moved from the U.S. to Israel eight years ago and lives with her husband north of Tel Aviv. On Saturday, she woke up to the sound of rockets, “like all Israelis” at 630 am, and started checking on her relatives while heading to the bomb shelter.

Onn has had a family Whatsapp message chain that is ongoing and was shocked when they told her unbelievable words—Hamas was in Nir Oz, a Southern Israel kibbutz near the Gaza border.

“I talked to them – they could hear the gunfire and were so scared for their lives,” Onn acknowledged. “They were in their homes, and the soldiers had overturned everything in their house. Then we lost contact with them – a horrible feeling.”

In a video that has gone viral on social media, Erez is seen being dragged away, by men with guns. “We sadly believe that he, along with the family, are in Gaza and being held hostage," she said with immense sadness.

After hearing from them around “11 or 12 on Saturday,” the video is the last piece of information Onn has of her family. According to her interview with MSNBC, the army had recommended the family not use Whatsapp anymore, as it could identify where they were.

Later, she heard news reports that the apartment building where her family was staying had been burned and destroyed. She also heard that Hamas may have used smoke grenades and bombs to slaughter everyone.

In an effort to “stay positive,” get the word out and appeal for help, Onn has been doing numerous interviews with the U.S. television networks. During an appearance on “Fox & Friends First” Tuesday morning, she mentioned that Erez is the same age as her own child.

"I feel heartbroken," Onn told host Carley Shimkus. "I have a child the same age in the other room. It is any parent’s worst nightmare. It is inconceivable that this is happening in this day, in this time in Israel."

And yet, Onn is hoping with her whole heart that the family are together and still alive. “It’s a soul crushing feeling…This is not a political situation. This is humanitarian. They were taken from their homes in the most agonizing way possible. No one could ever, ever expect 3,000 terrorists coming by land, sea, and air to rape and murder and take hostage civilians.”

 

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On Instagram, Onn told her followers that she met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and addressed the press on behalf of the Americans who have family members being held hostage by Hamas.

“Our message was one of gratitude for their support and a very clear request to Blinken: Help us secure the release of hostages.”

She continued: “The hostages, including my cousins, are elderly, wounded, special needs and children. Bring them home NOW.”

Onn’s family is featured as part of the #voicesforhostages campaign, in which a group of women leaders that includes celebrities, politicians and activists, were part of a strongly written letter. Published by the National Council of Jewish Women, it called on international governments and human rights groups to demand the immediate release of all hostages, including women and children, who are being held by Hamas.

The signatories include celebrities Gal Gadot, Helen Mirren, Debra Messing, Amy Schumer, Montana Tucker and Mandy Moore; philanthropist Stacy Schusterman; Judge Dorit Beinisch, former president of the Israeli Supreme Court; and Professor Yuli Tamir, former chairperson of the Israeli Human Rights Association and former Israeli education minister.

“We urge all governments, international organizations and civil society groups to condemn these crimes and take action to help secure the release of hostages. We urge the International Committee of the Red Cross, UNICEF, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and others, to do everything within their power to get much-needed aid to hostages,” stated the letter.

Kidnapping children is despicable and wholly unjustifiable. For obvious reasons, this picture has hit home with me. May Noya and all hostages taken by Hamas be returned soon, safely, to their families. https://t.co/YIbf3egib4

— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) October 16, 2023

A tragic end: The bodies of 12-year-old Noya Dan, who had special needs, and her grandmother Carmela have been found@ifatglick https://t.co/SnYUZYrcQD

— כאן חדשות (@kann_news) October 19, 2023