Some of Duke professor's family members released during Israel-Hamas ceasefire

For 32 years, Stanley Robboy and Marion Meyer-Robboy have lived in the Triangle. Stanley is a retired Duke professor of pathology.

The couple has ties to Israel, and the pair estimates they have been Israel more than 50 times.

For nearly two months, they have watched what they call "brutal attacks" happen in a place they hold close to their hearts. In the midst of the Israel-Hamas war, Marion said five of her second and third cousins have been held captive by Hamas militants for 50 days.

"They had just celebrated one of the most joyous Jewish holidays, which was called Simchat Torah," Marion said. "They were celebrating late at night, went to sleep and woke up in the morning to the aggression of Hamas."

While trying to gather information about their relatives, Stanley said misinformation was spreading about whether some were even alive.

"How do you contact a person?" Stanley said. "You don’t have a phone number, you know their home is destroyed. It has taken so many calls and relations to find somebody who knows somebody."

Eventually, they were able to get in contact with someone. Marion said they have been writing letters. Those letters are the only information they have.

Sadly, not all of them made it out alive.

"Three of them were brutally murdered, [and] six of them were deported to Gaza," she said. "Five of them were released just a few days ago. One of them is still there."

Their relatives’ release was part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Hamas released hostages; in exchange, Israel released Palestinian prisoners – primarily, women and children.

"They don’t have an identity anymore," Marion said. "They don’t have their watches and cellphones. It’s like they’re starting from the beginning. It’s going to take a long time; it’s very traumatic.

It’s one thing to be freed, but how do you reenter the world?"

Marion said she wished she could go offer her help in Israel.

"It affects us very deeply," she said. "Ever since Oct. 7, my life has changed."

Stanley and Marion are hopeful but not optimistic that this ceasefire will be the end of the violence.

Marion said she expects to get an update on her family members next week.

"Jewish tradition teaches you to always have hope and never give up," Marion said.