In the aftermath of Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 terror attack, 255 families were thrust into the trauma of fighting for the return of their loved ones from captivity in Gaza.
255 – The Hostages and Their Families Organization was established a year later to support these families as they navigate the complex emotional, social and practical challenges involved.
“We, as families of hostages, don’t feel connected or normal anywhere except among other hostage families. This community gives us the chance to feel human again—to be seen as people, not just as ‘hostage families,’” said Michael Levy, brother of former captive Or Levy, who was abducted from the Supernova music festival on Oct. 7, 2023.
“It includes anyone affected—myself, my wife, my daughters, even my uncle, who was also very involved. Anyone touched by this trauma is part of it,” Michael said.
“We stopped our lives—stopped working, left our families and friends—to fight for the release of the hostages. It was the right thing to do, and I’d do it again, though I hope I’ll never have to. But it comes at a cost. When it’s over, you have to rebuild—yourself, your family, your marriage—from scratch. And honestly, that’s not something I can do alone,” he added.
Founded by former captives and relatives of hostages, 255 is based on the understanding that being a hostage family is a lifelong reality. It recognizes that trauma reverberates through every layer of family life, affecting not only immediate relatives but also extended families, friends and entire communities.
The organization applies a post-traumatic growth model, empowering families and former captives to identify their own needs while combining professional expertise with the “experiential expertise” of those who have lived through captivity and its aftermath.
255 operates through several key components, including a broad personal and family support framework led by professional social workers to address emotional, familial, occupational, financial and social needs.
It also focuses on community-building, creating safe spaces and networks of belonging for hostages and their families, grounded in shared identity and experience.
Another pillar of its work is public strategy and policy advocacy, aimed at closing gaps in support and rights and promoting a comprehensive state-level response to this unprecedented crisis.
Preserving the narrative is also central to the organization’s mission—ensuring that hostages and their families are the ones telling their stories, commemorating their loved ones and passing on their testimonies to future generations in their authentic, human voice.
The organization operates with the support of the Shashua Family Foundation and the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs, in partnership with the Jewish Federations of North America and the Joint Israel.
