HOUSTON — For Nir Shani, who once called Houston home, his return from Israel to the city he once loved now comes with a purpose, as more than 200 Israeli civilians are being held hostage in the wake of Hamas' terror attack.
"We expect the world to raise its voice and do whatever they can to release them," said Shani.
One of those hostages is his 16-year-old son Amit.
"His major was cinema, he got good grades, has a few close friends, that he loves, he loved the sea," said Shani of his son.
Amit turned 16 two weeks after he was kidnapped.
"Seven terrorists entered the house and broke into the safe room, so he raised his hands and went down on his knees and surrendered," explained Shani.
Many of the hostages Shani says, are being strategically held in Gaza as human shields as the war escalates.
"They shouldn’t be a tool in a conflict, that shouldn’t be acceptable and it's not an Israeli or Jewish thing, it’s a human thing," said Shani.
Amit’s 14-year-old cousin Ela whose father was killed during the invasion called it an act of terror.
"No IDF soldier can ever do, can ever commit one of these terror actions that these people did on October 7th, none of them, and that’s the difference between a respectful army and a terrorist organization," said Ela.
Calling for peace and action knowing lives are counting on it.
"When one person is kidnapped the whole world needs to stand up and fight until that one person is back home safely…and there are 240 innocent civilians who are held in captivity in Gaza by terrorists," said Ela.
"We miss him and we want him to be released," said Shani.
Shani and his family are traveling around the U.S. to raise awareness of what's happening and to bring the hostages home.