Since the attacks of October 7, Berlin has quietly expedited citizenship for Israeli hostages and their families with German roots, offering a rare lifeline amid the crisis. Through the German embassy in Tel Aviv, citizenship applications that would normally take years were processed in weeks, allowing several hostages to receive German passports upon their release. This effort, largely unpublicized, was made possible by a recent expansion of eligibility for descendants of Holocaust victims, and has provided families with new diplomatic avenues and a sense of protection. The move has sparked a surge in citizenship applications among Israelis, reflecting both a search for security and a complex reckoning with history, as families of Holocaust survivors now turn to Germany for safety. German officials, including the ambassador to Israel, have become deeply involved with hostage families, advocating for their release and underscoring Germany's commitment, even as the ongoing war and stalled negotiations continue to cause anguish.