'Expressing gratitude for your exceptional compassion': Hostage from Israel writes a letter to Hamas

In a letter addressed to Hamas, the hostage shares that not only did her daughter form connections with the fighters, but she also experienced a sense of regality, feeling like a queen.

Danielle Aloni, an Israeli mother, conveyed her deep appreciation to Hamas fighters in a letter expressing gratitude for the care they provided to her five-year-old daughter, Emilia, during the 49 days of captivity in besieged Gaza.

Both, along with their relatives, were held hostage by Hamas and were eventually released on November 24 as part of a temporary ceasefire deal between the Palestinian resistance group and Israel, according to TRT World.

Before leaving Gaza to reunite with her family in Israel, Aloni penned the letter, thanking the group for their exceptional humanity towards her daughter. She wrote, “I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your extraordinary humanity shown towards my daughter, Emilia.”

Originally written in Hebrew, the letter was shared on the official Telegram account of Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, on Monday. It included an Arabic translation and a photograph of the mother and daughter.

In her handwritten letter in Hebrew, Danielle expressed, “She (Emilia) acknowledges feeling like all of you are her friends, not just friends, but truly beloved and good.”

She also acknowledged Hamas fighters for the excellent care they provided to hostages in Gaza, saying, “Thank you for the many hours you spent as caregivers.”

Furthermore, she disclosed that her daughter not only formed bonds with Hamas fighters but also “felt like a queen.” Danielle stated, “Children should not be in captivity, but thanks to you and other kind people we met along the way, my daughter felt like a queen in Gaza.”

“In the long journey, we have been on, we have not met anyone who has not been kind to her; you have treated her with kindness and compassion.”

Aloni concluded her letter with compassion for Hamas, expressing, “I will remember your kind behavior shown despite the difficult situation you faced and the severe losses you suffered here in Gaza.”

“I wish in this world we could truly be good friends,” she wrote, adding her good wishes to Gazans, “I wish you all health and well-being… health and love to you and your families’ children.”

Danielle and Emilia Aloni, who were taken hostage while visiting Danielle’s sister and her family at Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel, were among the 24 Israeli hostages released by Hamas on November 24. Previously, Hamas fighters shared a video online in which Danielle and two other hostages were seen calling out Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to have the hostages released sooner.