As Israeli tanks and infantry forces began a limited push into Gaza over the weekend, ahead of an expected full-scale ground invasion, families and friends of the now-230 hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7 want to make sure their loved ones aren’t forgotten. That’s why Toronto social worker Lynne Mitchell, a longtime friend of kidnapped Canadian-Israeli peace activist Vivian Silver, is speaking out. She’s telling the world who Silver is and how her friend went to Israel to devote her life to helping forge peaceful relationships between Palestinians, Israeli Arabs and Jews. She believes Silver, a widow, would not want to be freed through violent raids—but rather by mediation or negotiation. It’s been more than three weeks since Silver, 74, was captured by Hamas while hiding in her safe room inside her Kibbutz Be’eri home, where 130 residents were later found slaughtered. Mitchell joins The CJN Daily to share how Silver’s family has been navigating this tense moment—and what she hopes will happen next.

What we talked about

Learn more about Vivian Silver in The CJN
Join the “Missing Vivian Silver” Facebook group
Read about the funeral for Alexandre Look, a Canadian murdered at the music festival in Israel, in The CJN
Register for the Toronto rally on Nov. 1 in support of the hostages

Credits

The CJN Daily is written and hosted by Ellin Bessner (@ebessner on Twitter). Zachary Kauffman is the producer. Michael Fraiman is the executive producer. Our theme music by Dov Beck-Levine. Our title sponsor is Metropia. We’re a member of The CJN Podcast Network. To subscribe to this podcast, please watch this video. Donate to The CJN and receive a charitable tax receipt by clicking here.

Vivian Silver, the Canadian peace activist taken hostage by Hamas, would wish to be released through non-violent means, her close friend says