In brief
Lishay Miran has been sending messages to her husband, Omri, who has been held captive by Hamas for 18 months, sharing snippets of their daughters’ lives and her enduring love. On the eve of his 48th birthday, she visited Tel Aviv's Hostages Square to honor him and other missing loved ones, all while grappling with the emotional turmoil of a second birthday without him. As tensions flare once again at the Gaza border, Lishay remains steadfast in her belief that Omri is alive, waiting for the day she can finally receive his replies.
When Omri Miran’s birthday rolled around for the second time in captivity, his wife Lishay found herself in a flurry of memories shared on WhatsApp, recounting the daily life of their daughters and their poignant longing for their father. Omri has been held by Hamas for 18 months since his abduction from Kibbutz Nahal Oz on October 7, 2023. Despite the passage of time and the heart-wrenching absence, Lishay continues her unwavering dedication to keeping their family bonds alive through messages she calls "Notes to Omri," sent in hopes that he will eventually read them.Lishay's messages range from expressing love to recounting life events, including her reflections on how much their daughters, who were still young children at the time of Omri’s kidnapping, have grown without him. With his birthday coinciding with the Jewish holiday of Pesach, which symbolizes freedom, Lishay’s sentiments become even more poignant, emphasizing her feelings of despair among the ongoing conflict.The gatherings in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square on the day of Omri’s birthday were poignant, where banners displaying his age highlighted the ongoing plight of the remaining hostages. As Lishay walks through the square, she connects deeply with the communal efforts to keep the stories of the hostages alive, including discussions around potential ceasefire agreements and the challenges faced by families of the captives.Despite moments of anguish and despair about their family’s situation, Lishay makes pilgrimages back to Nahal Oz, trying to maintain a connection to Omri. The proximity to the border with Gaza is a constant reminder of his presence and the uncertainty surrounding his fate. She acknowledges the emotional turmoil that comes with reminders of escalating tensions and warfare.In recent weeks, Lishay's frustration and anger toward the perceived lack of action from Israeli authorities are palpable, especially when her husband's dual nationality as a Hungarian citizen is used for political discourse. She seeks recognition for her husband as a person, not merely a statistic among hostages, reflecting her desire for accountability and action.As whispers of renewed negotiations for a ceasefire arise, Lishay’s hope persists, emphasizing her belief that Omri will eventually come home. For now, her efforts to maintain kinship through her messages remain steadfast, waiting for the day the blue ticks will appear in her WhatsApp chat, signifying her messages reaching Omri and a long-awaited reunion being on the horizon.
