A mother's plea: Bring my sons home from Gaza

Sylvia Cunio's emotional plea for the return of her sons from Gaza highlights the ongoing struggle of families awaiting the release of hostages and the hope for reunions.

Sylvia Cunio is the mother of David and Ariel Cunio. Both of her sons were violently kidnapped by Hamas terrorists and have been held captive in Gaza for over 585 days.

I want to tell you about my sons – not as hostages, but as the vibrant, loving men they are. David, who turns 35 on May 21 – his second birthday in captivity – is a devoted father. He’s an electrical engineer with a childlike spirit. He and his wife Sharon have beautiful twin daughters, Yuli and Emma, who are just 4 years old. My younger son Ariel, 27, is what we call "a mama's boy" – my baby, the youngest of our four sons. He’s a software tester with a passion for music and astronomy. Just before his kidnapping, he had returned from exploring South America with his girlfriend Arbel Yehoud.