Families of Portuguese-Israeli hostages pray in a Lisbon synagogue for the “end of the nightmare”

The families of four Portuguese-Israeli hostages abducted two months ago by the Islamic extremist group Hamas gathered at a Lisbon synagogue on Tuesday to pray for their release and “an end to the nightmare.”

In front of hundreds of people gathered in the synagogue for prayer, Nira Herman Sharabi recalled the attack on the kibbutz where she lived on the morning of October 7. Nira hasn’t seen her daughter-in-law or husband since that day and just wants the “nightmare to end.”

Nira Sharabi does not have any information about her husband Yossi (53 years old). As for his daughter-in-law Eli (51 years old), four weeks ago he received information that she was still alive.

Visibly emotional and holding a poster of her husband, Niru Sharabi was supported by her son-in-law Raz Matalon, who lost three family members in the attack.

This Tuesday in Lisbon, Raz Matalon thanks the world for its support in the fight against hatred: “I am not religious, but I believe in the power of society.”

Regarding the attack, Raz Matalon regrets the violence that will follow him for the rest of his life. “The cemetery in my village was full of young people.”

Touched, Omri Shviti remembered the day his brother Idan (28), “the best friend you could ever have,” went to a music festival. He was reportedly involved in a car accident while trying to escape terrorists and died four days later in a hospital in the Gaza Strip as a result of his injuries.

But Omri Sweety and his sister don’t want to believe it. “We firmly believe that he is alive and we pray for that every day,” Omri said.

Before the festival, the 28-year-old told him he wanted to “volunteer in Africa” and “make my mark on the world.”

“We don’t want to know anything about politics, we never wanted to know that. We just want him to come home,” Omri Shwiti said.

Amir Trebic has a cousin who went missing on October 7, Tsachi Idan (49 years old). “We are here in Portugal to push for his release,” he said, justifying his presence in Portugal at the invitation of the Israeli embassy in Lisbon.

For his part, Israeli Ambassador Dor Shapiro thanked Portugal and the Portuguese for their support, “an important solidarity that is also felt” in Israel.

Today’s moment of prayer with the families of the hostages is filled with “great pain, but also great hope,” showing the unity of the world and Israel in what he called the fight against terrorism.

“This unity shows us the spirit of Israelis, Jews, Muslims and Christians who want to return to normal life” after the “return of the hostages.”

Regarding the possibility of a ceasefire, which was requested by several countries and organizations, the ambassador brought his speech in line with the official position of Tel Aviv.

“The truce was broken by Hamas on October 7,” and if the Islamic extremist movement wants such a break again, it could receive “an answer in two minutes: just surrender, hand over your weapons and hand over your hostages.”

Until then, Israeli troops will remain on the ground to “eliminate this terrorist organization, pacify the region and return the 138 hostages,” the diplomat said.

The leader of the Israeli community in Lisbon, David Botelho, also spoke at the ceremony, stressing that “Portugal is on the fair side of this conflict, provoked unilaterally and violently by Hamas terrorists.”

“Portugal will support democracies against tyranny, defend the rule of law against totalitarianism, value those who promote and practice freedoms against those who want to rule dictatorships,” whether “at the bilateral or European level,” David Botelho said.

At the end of the ceremony, those in attendance were invited to pray for the release of the hostages, as well as for the “heroic soldiers fighting in Gaza and northern Lebanon,” the organization said.