JERUSALEM (VINnews) — A 24-hour rally is being held at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv to mark 100 days in which 136 abductees have been held captive by Hamas in life-threatening conditions, without food, water and medical care. During the 24 hours, members of the families of the abductees, the best Israeli artists, public figures, leaders from Israel and the world will take to the stage of the rally.
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Freed hostage Agam Goldstein spoke movingly to her friends who are still in captivity, stating that “I want to scream your pain, your suffering, your despair.”
“Did he again enter your shower, strip you of the pajamas he gave you… it really hurt, but his control over you hurt more״.
Former hostage, Agam Goldstein-Almog, reads an open letter she wrote to her friends who are still held by Hamas at the “100 Days of Hell” rally in Tel… pic.twitter.com/ssLawNAwKE— Elad Simchayoff (@Elad_Si) January 13, 2024
One of the exhibits at the rally is a tunnel replicating those in which the hostages were held.
Ofir Angel , Hamas captivity survivor visited the replica tunnel in Tel Aviv today accompanied by his girlfriend whose uncle and father are still hostages in Gaza .
Ofir said : “ I feel terrified walking in this tunnel it is horrific to be an hostage underground, Time is running… pic.twitter.com/buB9nc9muG— Iris (@streetwize) January 13, 2024
French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a projected message to the abductees and their families: “One hundred days have passed. Eitan, Erez, Sahar and Miia have returned to us, but we mourn the death of Eliya who was murdered by his captors in Gaza. The French nation is determined that Ohad and Ofer return to their freed children, that Orion will be released and all the hostages from the terrorist attacks from October 7 will be released.’
“France does not abandon its children,” he clarified, “therefore the negotiations for their release must be repeated and renewed again and again. We must not surrender, we must never give up, because we cannot agree and we will never agree to any sacrifice. We will do everything then and you can trust me to bring everyone home, to you.’
Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) also delivered a powerful message of support for the hostages:
“Nothing prepared us for the overwhelming grief we felt talking to the families of hostages. There was not a dry eye in the room. We saw horrible footage of the elderly taken hostage, in need of medicine. We saw footage of a twelve-year-old boy dragged away from his family in the kibbutz. It just breaks your heart,” Senator Schumer said in his video address.
“Since that meeting and over the last months, I have had no higher priority than bringing the hostages home safely. That commitment has been unwavering. We must bring them home,” he said.
“I am here to say, do not give up hope. I know many of you are afraid that the plight of the hostages has fallen out of the public eye. But let me say again, I have no higher priority than bringing all the hostages home safely.
“Let me be clear. Hamas could release the hostages tomorrow. If they had any basic shred of humanity, they would. But we will continue to put all possible pressure to ensure their release. That’s why your advocacy and your being here is so important. We must continue to put pressure on every leader, every government, every party with influence to bring these precious hostages home, and bring them home now. We have not forgotten you. We have not forgotten your loved ones. We will never forget. And we will not rest until your loved ones are returned to,” Schumer concluded.