Live Broadcast | 100 DAYS IN CAPTIVITY: PROTEST RALLY IN TEL AVIV (SATVIEW)
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In the coming day, the State of Israel will mark 100 days since the October 7 massacre and the captivity of 136 Israelis in the Gaza Strip. Tens of thousands of people arrived Saturday evening for the protest rally in Tel Aviv's Abductees Square, which will last 24 hours, until tomorrow at 20:00 P.M.
Thousands of demonstrators came to the square with Israeli flags. At that time, some of the protesters descended on the Ayalon South Highway and blocked it at the Peace Interchange – and according to the demonstrators, three were arrested.
Ayalon blocked during demonstration for the release of the abductees / Esther Wiener Illouz, Yair Palti, Sagi, Gil Levin
Ayalon Highway blocked during 24-hour demonstration for the return of abductees, Tel Aviv Abductees Square. January 13, 2024/official website, Esther Wiener Illouz
The first to speak were Omer Shem Tov's parents, Shelly and Malki. "We were taught that no one is left behind. Fourteen years ago, the whole family went to a rally in support of Gilad Shalit. I never dreamed in my most surreal dreams that I would stand on the other side and cry out to bring Omar home," Shelly said. Omar's video from the rally was played on the screen
, "We are going through hell," his sister Dana added. "This is a huge hole in the heart that must be closed. I can't get up for one more day in this reality. 14 Fridays that Omar makes Kiddush in Gaza with the few means he has. When Itai and Mia came back and told me about his struggle, I wasn't surprised. He is brave and heroic. Omar one of the funniest. I miss our conversations. Itai Regev said that during their time together they sang a lot of Yishai Ribo's song 'Coming Home.'"
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew spoke at the rally: "As U.S. ambassador, I pledge that we will not stop working to bring the hostages home. President Biden and the United States are determined to return all the hostages. We work non-stop with Israel, Qatar, Egypt and any other country that can help. That's at the top of my mind. My heart goes out to families who miss them and don't know what happened to their loved ones. Everyone deserves to come back 'now'. We will not violate our obligation to return them. Hundreds of innocents were taken as one."
24-Hour Demonstration for the Return of the Abductees, Tel Aviv Abductees Square. January 13, 2024/Ori Sela
24-Hour Demonstration for the Return of the Abductees, Tel Aviv Abductees Square. January 13, 2024/Ori Sela
Raz Ben Ami, who was released from captivity after 54 days, spoke alongside her daughters calling for the return of her husband Ohad. "Our love story started in the '90s. I knew a handsome wild boy. We worked together at Medion and Ohad understood from the first moment that it was something else. He thought he was coming to my house for a first date and was surprised to see all my friends waiting for him in the living room. All the friends who surprised you are waiting for you at home," she said.
"During our years of acquaintance, he proposed to me every morning over coffee. Every morning I wake up disappointed to find out that I won't accept a marriage proposal. You owe me a hundred already. On October 7, no one tried to save us when the damned terrorists broke into our home. I met you in Medion in Boxer, Black Saturday you were taken in Boxer. I promise that the first date when you come back will also be at Medellion in Boxer."
"Being kidnapped means not knowing if and when the next meal will come, not feeling suffocated at all hours of the day, not knowing when you'll see the light of day, not turning a blind eye knowing that terrorists are pointing weapons at your head, feeling helpless, losing control of your life. Not knowing if you'll live in a minute," she said. "As long as a fan isn't home, I'm still kidnapped. An injured fan, his condition deteriorates every day. The War Cabinet must approve any deal that leads to the release of Ohad and the other hostages. I call on your name to the War Cabinet - don't abandon me. No Israeli citizen should be in the Hamas tunnels one day, certainly not a hundred."
Ayalon Highway blocked during 24-hour demonstration for the return of abductees, Tel Aviv Abductees Square. January 13, 2024/official website, Gilad First
During the rally, a message was projected from French President Emmanuel Macron, who said: "We will do everything and you can count on me to bring everyone home, to you."
"A hundred days passed - Eitan, Erez, Sahar and Maya came back to us. But we mourn the death of Elia, who was murdered by his kidnappers in Gaza," Macron said, "The French nation is determined that Ohad and Ofer will return to their children who were released, that Orion will be released, that all the victims of the October 7 terror attacks will be released."
"France is not abandoning its children, so negotiations for their release must be renewed again and again. We must not surrender, we must never give up, never because we cannot agree and we will never agree to any victim, we will do everything if so and you can count on me to bring everyone home, to you," the president said.
Former Supreme Court President Dorit Beinisch said at the rally that "the holding of our citizens by Hamas is an ongoing crime, one of the most serious war crimes. Having been attacked in our country with the intention of destroying us simply because we are Israelis and Jews, while committing crimes with the intention of genocide, we are hypocritically and brazenly prosecuted in The Hague and falsely accused. The false claim must be rejected and deserves reprehension from any democratic country. The October 7 massacre is neither an emergency war nor a legitimate struggle under any rules of war. Any such slogan is legitimization of cruel war crimes against humanity and all human beings. The nations of the world must stand by us. Encouraging terrorism is a danger to the world and to all humanity."
- More on the subject:
- Demonstrations
- Gaza War
- Iron Sword War
- Tel Aviv-Yafo