AUSTIN, Texas — It took more than 11 hours before 14-year-old Ella Shani was rescued by a special unit in Israel on Oct. 7.
She was in a saferoom at the time with her mother, brother and a friend. It wasn't until after her rescue that she learned that her father had been killed and her cousin, Amit, had been taken hostage by Hamas fighters.
"I didn't get to mourn my dad. I just buried him," Ella Shani said.
Amit's father, Nir Shani, said his house was torched and he only knows his son was taken near the Gaza strip.
"I'm full of hope that my son is alive," Nir Shani said.
Hope others such as Dori Roberts are also holding onto.
The Austin resident explained how his aunt was found dead at the Gaza border. Five other of his family members had been kidnapped, and he has no idea whether they are still alive.
"There is no sit back and relax and take a breath till they come back because they don't have that privilege," Roberts said.
Ella and Nir Shani, Dori Roberts and Daniel Lifshitz sat alongside one another at the Dell Jewish Community Center (Dell JCC) on Thursday, where they each recounted their own personal nightmares.
Lifshitz lives in Tel Aviv and was in Paris at the time of the surprise attack. His grandparents, who he described as being like parents to him, were also taken away by Hamas.
His grandmother was released 15 days after the attack, according to Lifshitz.
"I was lucky to have my grandmother back," Lifshitz said.
Four stories with one purpose: to bring the remaining hostages back home.
Many people, including thousands of Texans, have called for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
Israeli officials announced that they are considering a temporary ceasefire if Hamas fighters agree to release some hostages.
Shalom Austin, in partnership with the Consulate General of Israel to Southwest and Israeli-American Council, put Thursday's gathering together.