Arnold Schwarzenegger meets Oct 7 massacre survivors as he gives families of Israeli hostages special message
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER has given the families of Israeli hostages still held captive by Hamas thugs a special message of support as he vows to use his celebrity status for good.
The iconic Hollywood star talked with brave survivors from the October 7 massacre as many are still left waiting to be reunited with their loved ones.
Schwarzenegger told the world not to abandon any of the hostages still trapped 57 days after they were first snatched from their families just because the truce has now ended.
The former governor of California and legendary Terminator actor spoke with three survivors from the horrifying massacre where thousands were killed and hundreds beaten and kidnapped.
He talked to the relatives of people snatched by Hamas thugs during the planned attack as they told Arnie stories of the dreaded day and shared memories of their loved ones still held captive.
In a heartwarming video shared online, Schwarzenegger can be heard showing his full support to the Israeli people who have been awfully affected by the tragic scenes in Gaza over the last two months.
The chat took place December 1, in Schwarzenegger’s private residence in Santa Monica, California where he invited in people to help spread the message of support.
Arnie starts his opening speech by saying: “I am a big friend of Jewish people and Israel,” before he is met by a big round of applause.
Schwarzenegger is sat surrounded by his former bodybuilding trophies in the clip as he talks about the “sad and horrific stories” he’s heard about the war and from the survivors and family members he’s met.
One of those is Bar Rudaeff, whose 61-year-old father Lior was taken from a kibbutz during the terrifying October 7 attacks.
Bar said about his dad: “I remember watching a Terminator movie with him in the living room. And I know that when he comes back, it will put a smile on his face.”
Lior Rudaff wasn’t among the hostages released in last weeks week long truce as his families long wait to see him alive and well continues.
The Hollywood A-lister continues talking in the clip about how he wants to use his celebrity power to bring more attention to the war and tell the mainstream world the messages the people of Israel are trying to convey across the globe.
The movie star says: “When you’re a celebrity you have a certain kind of power.
“I think this is a story that everyone in the world needs to hear.
“And not just once but as many times as possible because it shows once again what hate can do. Love doesn’t do that.”
A second victim recalls the moment she walked into her house moments after the “monsters” attacked and killed her father.
She says: “I was in the house and there was blood on the walls and on the floor but the house wasn’t burned his body was.
“I don’t want to know what they did to him but I’m holding on to the faith that he died from being shot so he did not suffer the unimageable feeling of being burned.”
The brave woman then hugs Schwarzenegger and smiles through the pain.
Personal gifts were then exchanged as Schwarzenegger gave each survivor an eagle trophy and they in return gave the star a dog tag with the words “BRING THEM HOME NOW” engraved on it.
The bloody fighting along the Gaza Strip started again Friday morning after a week-long truce expired early in the morning.
The agreement saw a complete ceasefire agreed as over 100 hostages held in Gaza were freed and 240 Palestinian prisoners were given back to Hamas from Israeli jails.
But many were left bitterly disappointed with the ceasefire ending as their loved ones still remained captive.
Ilan Zharia, the uncle of 20-year-old hostage Eden Yerushalmi, said: “We saw a chance for people to come out, be reunited with their families and resume their old lives.”
The man was told his niece and other young women had been “very close to being freed,” but as the eyes of the world return to the brutal fighting Ilan fears the hostages could be kept for much longer.
He continued: “We ask the Qatari and Egyptian intermediaries… we ask everyone, our country, Hamas, to sit down and find another framework to release hostages.”
Calling it the “responsibility of all of us” to make sure the hostages were not abandoned.
Violence quickly started up again hours after the truce ended with the IDF thought to have carried out 200 destructive air strikes across the first 24 hours.
Families living in Gaza have been caught in the brutal crossfire, with regular accusations that the terrorists are attempting to use them as “human shields”.
Much of the northern part of the strip has been turned into a devastated warzone – with ruined buildings, dwindling supplies and horrific suffering for Gaza’s people.
The Red Cross estimates that some 1.5million civilians have been forced to flee south amid the Israeli onslaught from land, air and sea.
Figures for the death toll remain unverified – but Hamas’ health officials claim more than 11,000 civilians, including more than 4,500 children have been killed.
