WASHINGTON — The past week has been a complete nightmare for Alana Zeitchik and her family.
On Saturday, Oct. 7, six of her family members were kidnapped by Hamas and taken hostage into Gaza.
"The last week has been a nightmare. I'm crying constantly. Every morning I open my eyes and just wail," she told WUSA9 Monday evening.
Zeitchik says her cousin Sharon Cunio, her husband David Cunio and their two twin 3-year-old daughters Emma and Julie lived in Kibbutz Nir Oz, just outside of Gaza.
Sharon's sister Danielle Alony, and Danielle's 5-year-old daughter were visiting the Cunio's on the 7th, when they were attacked by Hamas.
Zeitchik says around 7:30 a.m. the family got a red alert, meaning rockets were being sent from Gaza into Israel. She says the family got into their bomb shelter.
"Houses were being burned, smoke was filling their house and their bomb shelter. My cousin sent a voice note to my aunt and said I don't think we're gonna get out of this, I love you," said Zeitchik.
A few hours later, Zeitchik and her brother saw a video circulating on TikTok, showing their family members in the back of a truck being taken away.
"It was horrific seeing that," she said.
"All we know is that they are confirmed to be hostage and alive in Gaza. We don't know what their conditions are by any means it's something we think about constantly. We know they are there and alive according to the IDF," said Zeitchik Monday night.
She questioned how her family and the other families who are being held hostage are being cared for.
"There's toddlers, they're still in diapers. How are they being cared for? Do they have enough diapers? There are hostages from three months old to almost 100 years old," said Zeitchik.
"My family is warm, loving, they're generous people. They live in a kibbutz which is supposed to be a really peaceful place. It happens to be really close to Gaza. They are human beings who've been afraid of this for a very long time. They don't deserve this. They are good people. They are loved and they love. They are good humans and they want peace," she said.
She told WUSA9 she's hopeful her family will be safely returned, but also wants everyone to come together.
"This isn't a time for discourse and debate and context or the suffering wars. We've been living in a society of division long enough and this is a crisis against humanity," she said.