Mother of hostage who turns 19 today: ‘You are so missed it hurts my heart’

Shira Albag, second from left, and her daughter Shai hold up a picture of Liri Albag on Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on January 20, 2024. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)
Shira Albag, second from left, and her daughter Shai hold up a picture of Liri Albag on Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on January 20, 2024. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

Shira Albag, the mother of hostage Liri Albag, who turns 19 today in captivity, writes a column addressed to her in Ynet.

“My Liri, today you are marking 19 years, and I can’t even describe how much you are missed at home,” she writes.

“Before every birthday, a month before, the plans start, ordering balloons, cake, napkins, cups, and even a bouquet of flowers you want to match the colors — basically, you drive the whole house crazy with planning,” Shira writes.

“And now it’s quiet. Now there’s nothing. There’s no music at home because on you are responsible for the songs. There are no photos because only you take them. There’s no noise of cooking in the middle of the night. There’s no noise of doors opening and closing as you come and go. You are so missed that it hurts my heart.”

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