Son of Canadian presumed hostage in Gaza: 'Military actions don't solve anything'

The son of a Canadian woman believed to be among those held hostage by Hamas in Gaza wants the world to push for an end to the fighting, and says he fears Israel's escalating offensive could end all chance of bringing his mother safely home. "My basic belief is that the military actions don't solve anything," said Yonatan Zeigen. His mother, Vivian Silver, is one of an estimated 229 hostages taken by Hamas during its bloody Oct. 7 rampage in Israel. Hamas fighters breached Israel's defences and stormed into nearby towns like Silver's, gunning down civilians and soldiers in a surprise attack that killed at least 1,400 people. Zeigen recounted that day on a Zoom call Sunday organized by the Jerusalem Press Club. He said he and his mother heard news of an incursion by Hamas into Israel from the Gaza Strip, which sits less than five kilometres from Silver's home community of Kibbutz Be'eri. They were joking around on the phone until confusion set in. "We thought the next minute, it's goin