DALLAS — As representatives from several countries work to broker a possible deal between Israel and Hamas, families of the 136 hostages still in Gaza are waiting anxiously for word of any developments.
On Wednesday, family members of three different hostages spoke with WFAA at the Jewish Community Center in Dallas.
"It doesn’t get easier every time you talk about this," Leelle Slifer said, crying.
Her cousin, an occupational therapist named Carmel Gat, is one of the hostages. Gat's mother was killed by Hamas, she told WFAA.
"They put them into a car and zip tied their hands," she said.
Watch the full interview with these family members here:
Slifer is from Dallas, but she was joined by two other family members of hostages who came to Dallas from Israel and New York.
"Our life does not belong to us anymore," Dalia Cusnir of Israel said.
Both of her brothers in law Eitan and Iair Horn are hostages too.
As is Moshe Lavi’s brother-in-law, Omri Miran, who left behind his wife and two baby girls.
"[They were} held at gunpoint in their home, which was ravaged, they were abused," Cusnir said.
"Our families have been held 117 days as hostages in Gaza and fit feels like the whole world has just forgotten," Slifer said.
Slifer, Cusnir and Lavi have been called crisis actors, and told by strangers their loved ones deserved it.
"The milder messages will just call us liars, which is also very hurtful," Lavi said.
But these families have not allowed that to shift their focus. They've focused only on getting their loved ones home and sharing their stories.
"I know they’re coming back. I know it has to be soon. I don’t see any other option," Cusnir told WFAA.
"A solution was found for the first wave so there are ways for the second wave [of hostage negotiations,] Lavi said. "Everything, everything is in pursuit of bringing them home."