We are determined to return all of the hostages, Netanyahu tells group of Holocaust survivors

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met on Thursday with the Holocaust survivors who will serve as torchlighters at the official opening ceremony for Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Day at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem.

While International Holocaust Remembrance Day takes place each year on Jan. 7 – the day the Auschwitz concentration camp was liberated by the Soviet Army in 1945 – Israel commemorates it according to the Hebrew calendar – the 27th of Nissan – which falls one week before Independence Day.

During the meeting, Netanyahu discussed efforts to free Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. He also listened to the Holocaust survivors' stories and about their immigration to Israel.

Izi (Itzhak) Kabilio, an 88-year-old Holocaust survivor from Yugoslavia, spoke about the importance of remembering what happened but also addressed the importance of Israel amid increased antisemitism across the world.

"Today, the State of Israel is the one and only haven of the Jewish people," he said. "If somebody ever thinks that the USA could be a haven, with what is happening there today, we see that it is no longer the case. Therefore, we must strengthen the state."

Arie Eitani, a 97-year-old Holocaust survivor from Italy shared his experience.

"At the age of 18, in the ghetto, only a weakened population remained, and out of all of them, only I returned. I asked 'Why?' and I do not know. I was not wiser, more religious or stronger. I do not know how I survived."

Eitani added: "I was also imprisoned in Syria, and in Cyprus, and I escaped. I was in prison for two months. I was in enough prisons and I retain only one aspiration, Mr. Prime Minister, bring back the hostages. It greatly disturbs me, and drives me crazy. Thar is it sir, bring back the hostages. Please."

Netanyahu responded: "We are making great efforts. We have already returned half, when many people believed that we would not bring back even one. I can tell you that we are determined to return all of them – both the living and the deceased. We do not forget anyone."