Ten Hamas hostages have been hoping to gain Portuguese citizenship since their abduction on October 7, Comunidade Israelita do Porto reports.
The report came the same week that justice ministries from Portugal, Germany, the United States, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Estonia, as well as diplomatic representatives from Japan, Australia and Denmark, met with family members of those killed and detained. Hamas hostage.
Another four hostages have Portuguese citizenship, according to the Comunidade Israelita do Porto, which determines the hostages’ family ties to Portuguese ancestors.
The Portuguese-Israeli detainees are 28-year-old Idan Shtivi, 26-year-old Moshe Saadian, 48-year-old Dror Or and 52-year-old Offer Calderon.
Eli Shtivi, Idan’s father, who was kidnapped at a music festival in southern Israel, began a hunger strike to protest the Israeli government’s lack of response to the hostages’ release.
The ten hostages who are urgently seeking Portuguese citizenship in the hope of being released are Segev Halfon (26 years old), Omer Shem Tu (22 years old), Iftan Dan Tweg (28 years old), Almog Sarusi (27 years old), Tsachi Eitan (49 years old ). ) ; Maya Regev Gerbi (22 years old), Itai Egev Gerbi (19 years old), Ran Guili (25 years old), Moran Stela Yanay (41 years old) and Or Levi (33 years old).
This Thursday, the day that marks Tu Bishvat (New Year of the Trees on the Jewish calendar), the Israeli community of Porto remembers that 37 people with ties to Portugal were affected by the October 7 massacre, of whom 17 died. 14 people remain in captivity, and six have been released.