Pope Francis meets with relatives of hostages held by Hamas

On Monday morning, 8 April, Pope Francis met with relatives of Israeli hostages being held in Gaza by Hamas since 7 October. The Holy See Press Office disclosed that the private meeting took place in the Vatican Apostolic Palace. Among those present were Bezalel Shnaider, aunt of Shiri Bibas, who was taken with her two children, 4-year-old Ariel and 1-year-old Kfir; Gal Dalal, survivor of the attack at the Nova music festival and brother of 22-year-old Guy, who was kidnapped during the event; and their mother, Merav Gilboa Dalal. Also present were Naama Miran, sister of 46-year-old Omri Miran, kidnapped in the Nir Oz kibbutz; Lee Yam Berger, twin sister of Agam, a 19-year-old soldier kidnapped at the Nahal Oz military base; and cousin Sarah Waxman Bakshi; and Alon and Amit Nimrodi, father and sister of Tamir, a soldier taken from the Cogat base.