In a letter addressed to the families of 15 British navy sailors taken captive by Iran on Friday, the families of kidnapped IDF soldiers Gilad Shalit, Ehud Goldwasser and Eldad Regev expressed their deep sympathies - and their greatest hopes.


The Israeli families' letter, delivered on Monday to the British Embassy in Tel Aviv, said, in part:
"We recoiled at the thought that another 15 families have joined the circle of uncertainty that we have been part of for nine months.


"Like your sons, our sons were abducted while on a mission on behalf of their country. Like your sons, our sons have parents, brothers, wives and friends. We know very well your feelings in these difficult moments. We, too, experience every day the unending worry, the sleepless nights, but also the hope. The hope that our sons will return does not leave us for even one moment.


"We send you our blessings, and we are sure you will find the immense strength needed to face this very difficult period. A reality in which the lives of our children become a political game piece is a disgraceful reality that the world must correct.

"We send you our blessings, and we are sure you will find the immense strength needed...."



"This is the time to embrace family and friends, to join forces in order to return your sons home."


In an interview with Arutz-7's Hebrew newsmagazine on Tuesday, Ehud Goldwasser's father Shlomo said that the letter was foremost meant to express sympathy and understanding of what the British families are going through now, as well as what they can expect. At the same time, Goldwasser expressed the hope that uniting forces with the British victims would be effective in obtaining the release of all the hostages, as Iran is responsible in both cases.
Iranian forces directly took the UK navy sailors captive, while the IDF hostages are being held by Iran's proxy in Lebanon, the Hizbullah terrorist organization.


When asked if the Israeli and British families have coordinated efforts yet, Goldwasser said, "We have not reached that point."