Nir Shani, center, wearing a T-shirt with a photo of his missing son, asked the community for help. Ella Shani’s, left, father was murdered, and Yoni Asher’s wife and daughters were kidnapped. (photo by Edwin Folven)

Three family members of people who were killed or taken hostage by Hamas in Israel on Oct. 7 met with the Beverly Hills City Council on Nov. 13 and asked for help and support from the community.

Ella Shani, whose father was murdered, Nir Shani, whose son was kidnapped, and Yoni Asher, whose wife and two daughters were taken hostage, spoke to members of the council and a group of approximately 75 people who gathered at City Hall, recounting stories of horror and peril.

“My entire family was kidnapped on Oct. 7, and that is why I’m here today,” Asher said. “My wife and two daughters, along with their grandmother, were kidnapped from their grandmother’s house. Their grandmother was killed in front of their eyes during the abduction. For [40] days, they have been held captive by Hamas. I’m always thinking of them, are they cold, are they hot? Where are they? Who is holding them? These are babies, they need special treatment.”

The group was part of a delegation from Israel brought to the United States by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in Los Angeles, a volunteer-based organization seeking the safe return of the approximately 240 people being held hostage by Hamas. The delegation is visiting different parts of the country to raise support. The group first visited Beverly Hills and was scheduled to travel next to Austin and Houston, Texas, and then New York City.

“We ask you to please, please don’t be silent about it,” said Noa Zahavi, of Hostages and Missing Families Forum in Los Angeles. “Please understand the situation. I ask you to share this story. It’s been more than a month that these families haven’t seen their loved ones and don’t know where they are, whose holding them.”

Ella Shani, 14, outlined the horror her family experienced when armed terrorists stormed her kibbutz near Gaza on Oct. 7 and murdered and kidnapped many people. She survived by first hiding in a saferoom and later fleeing and being rescued by Israeli soldiers. Shani said she escaped gunfire and saw many dead bodies as she escaped. She later learned her father was among the people killed during the Oct. 7 attacks.

“I lost my dad and I really loved him and I was really proud of him. And I never said it to him, and I regret not doing this,” Shani said. “I’m asking you, each and every one of you, each one has a way to help. We won’t be silent because we want our families back. Please raise awareness, do anything you can, because we want them back.”

Nir Shani wore a T-shirt with a photograph of his 16-year-old son Amit, who was kidnapped on Oct. 7. Shani narrowly escaped when terrorists attacked his community, and said many of his neighbors were killed. He later learned his son had been taken hostage.

“We have to acknowledge that they have kids and babies and the elderly. It’s not part of the political game or war, and it needs to stop now,” Shani added.

Beverly Hills Mayor Julian Gold addressed the group and asked the public to support its campaign. He encouraged people to lobby federal legislators and advocate for the safe return of the hostages.

“In my life, I never thought we would be here. And I go from sad to angry and back again. The real key is, what can we do?,” Gold said. “Anybody who sees this, know that your voice matters and that our biggest weapon is our voice. And yes, we should send money, and yes, we can send supplies, we can do all those things, but at the end of the day, our strongest weapon here is our voice, individually and collectively.”

Zahavi asked people to continue putting “public pressure” on officials to ensure the hostages are returned and asked them to visit stories.bringthemhomenow.net for ways to help.

“There is an urgency,” Zahavi said. “Please help us bring them home now.”

Members of the Beverly Hills community listened to stories of survival told by a group from Israel on Nov. 13. (photo by Edwin Folven)