HEARTBREAKING: Families of Israeli Hostages Speak Out, Slam Hamas Viciousness

Some moments are so powerful, so compelling, that they leave you humbled and speechless.

On Thursday, the family members of several hostages taken by Hamas spoke from the stage at the Conservative Political Action Conference 2025 in an event called "Say their names." Mercedes Schlapp of CPAC served as the host. Three family members, one of whom was a survivor of the Oct 7th massacre, represented the families.

Gal Dalal spoke first. He was wearing a shirt with his brother's image on it. He described his experience at the Nova music festival, where he was when Hamas attacked on Oct. 7th, 2023. He noted the festival was an event to celebrate life and recalled how he went to the festival that day because of his younger brother, who was attending for the first time.

Then the venue exploded in gunfire, and Mr. Dalal has not seen his brother since that day.

He described gunshots and how he heard rockets and spent time hiding until he was rescued by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).

Moshe Lavi described how his family was held captive in their own home and taken into captivity. It was an emotional tale of terror and abuse, how Hamas even took a video of their victim's torment and posted it on social media. Several of his family members were rescued,

Adi described his desire to re-enlist in the IDF, but his sister encouraged him to become a spokesman for the hostages instead.

Adi Alexander's son is the father of the last remaining American held by Hamas. "It's really hard," he began, which has to be one of the great understatements of the event. He described how his son was the only IDF soldier on an outpost, found himself surrounded by 20 Hamas fighters, and was forced to surrender.

Mr. Alexander saw his son, pale but alive, on a video Hamas released on Thanksgiving.

Gal Dalal described how the families have been waiting for over 500 days for the full release of hostages, and expressed hope that President Trump would be able to help secure their releases, stating, "We believe the world is looking right now at what is happening in the United States."

Moshe Lavi declared that he believes Israel will ultimately prevail, but also described the humanitarian nature of the crisis and lauded the governments, including Hungary and the United States, that have stood with Israel.

Adi Alexander also mentioned the American involvement in the crisis, and expressed his hope that the rest of the hostages will be released "this Saturday."

All three men repeatedly hit a common theme: Don't forget the hostages. We need to get them home.

RedState's own Bonchie wrote eloquently earlier Thursday on the barbarity Hamas showed in the return of several bodies of hostages, including children.

Earlier on RedState: NEW: What 'Palestinians' Did While Handing Over Murdered Bibas Babies Sparks Outrage, Calls to Resume War

Bonchie writes:

Videos of the scene in Gaza painted a grim picture, with members of Hamas and the Palestinian Authority (the supposed "moderates") parading around coffins with the Bibas babies' pictures on them. In response, a massive crowd cheered and danced as music was blasted. For stagecraft, the terrorists put up a giant billboard with a picture of the entire Bibas family encased in blood. They then had the Red Cross, which was more than willing to play along with the propaganda, "sign" for the bodies in a depraved ceremony.
It was one of the most demonic things I've ever seen.

This is the nature of the enemy.

Hearing them speak, in their own words, with their anger and pain clearly written on their faces, said more about the nature of the Israel-Hamas conflict than I could write in a thousand years. It spoke eloquently - and heartbreakingly - about how this conflict is a clash of civilization vs. barbarity.