"100 Days in Hell": Hundreds of thousands arrived Saturday night for a 24-hour rally marking 100 days in which 136 abductees are held captive by Hamas in life-threatening conditions, without food, water or medical care. For 24 hours, members of the families of the abductees, the best Israeli artists, public figures, and leaders from Israel and around the world will take to the stage of the rally.
100-day abducted rally, photo: Yossi Zeliger
During the rally, thousands blocked Ayalon and demonstrated against the government. The headquarters of the families of the abductees said there was no connection between this and the rally. The police dispersed the illegal demonstration and the road was opened to traffic.
Erez Tal and Israel Katorza opened the rally and asked: "We need to ensure that the square will not be empty for one minute in the next twenty-four hours. Tonight, the State of Israel and all of it sympathizes with the families of the abductees and calls to do everything possible and return them now."
The rally of the families of the abductees, photo: screenshot
Dana, Omer Shem Tov's sister, spoke: "My family has been going through hell since that black day. ' My heart is in Gaza' is not a slogan, our heart is really in Gaza. What about Omar? It's a huge hole in the heart that must be closed. For the past 14 Shabbat, Omar has been making Kiddush in Gaza. When Itai and Maya came back and I heard about Omar's struggle in captivity, I wasn't surprised. He's brave, strong and heroic and I'm proud to be his big sister."
Determined to bring everyone back
The U.S. ambassador to Israel also spoke, saying, "We won't have time to work for them to go home. The United States is determined to bring everyone back. We are dealing with the government of Israel, Qatar, Egypt and any country that will help. Our hearts go out to the families who are not aware of what is happening with their loved ones. Each of them must go home, now. Today, when we mark 100 days, we say again, now!"
Minister Gadi Eisenkot, a member of the War Cabinet, arrived at the rally of the abductees and missing persons, photo: Headquarters of the families of the abductees
At the rally, a message was projected from French President Emmanuel Macron: "A hundred days have 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. The French nation that all victims of the October 7 terrorist 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, because we cannot and will never agree to any victim. We will do everything then and you can count on me to bring everyone home, to you."
This is not a request, it is a requirement
Sigi Cohen, the mother of Eliya Cohen, who was kidnapped from the Nova, said of her son: "In 100 days, to which he could pick up the company that a partner entered only two weeks before the party, he could have been engaged to his girlfriend who had already bought her an engagement ring. But he's imprisoned in Gaza. According to medical reports, the condition of all the abductees is in real danger. I'm worried about his well-being and the other abductees. Where is the world, where are the decision makers? Hello, is there anyone home? The war and the abductees united us as a people, because we all understand that we are the eternal people and our strength is in our unity."
Lena Trofonov, who was released from captivity and whose son Sasha is still in Gaza, said: "A month and a half ago, two days after I returned from Hamas captivity, I was happy and excited. Now I'm less happy. I never imagined we would reach 100 days. Every day I'm here and my heart is in Gaza, it's harder and harder. It's hard to live. I often regret coming back from captivity because that's where I had hope. I appeal to the decision makers of the State of Israel, don't kill me. Every day without Sasha kills me. I'm ready to go back to captivity, just get my son out."
About 1,000 youth from the working and learning youth came to the rally with the message "And the world is silent", Photo: Aviv Atlas
Yamit Ashkenazi, sister of Doron Steinbrecher who was kidnapped from her home in Kfar Gaza: "I don't accept my sister in the closet. Promote a deal, take responsibility. My sister and no one have a price. I'm not asking, I'm demanding everyone at home now."
Orna, Omer Natura's mother: "In your contract you were placed on the border to defend, but you had no means. The state is obligated to return you and the other abductees. Even if the prices are heavy, the price of missing out will be even heavier. The cry we shouted on Thursday in front of Gaza may have reached you and I hope everyone, including our leaders, hears it."
We must not get used to it
Danielle Aloni, who returned from captivity: "For 100 days, 136 abductees have been sitting in tunnels or dark apartments. 100 without sunlight. 100 days of running out of food and injuries not being treated. 100 days of never-ending hell. 100 days that the world is silent and ignores the horror videos. These are dark moments of the 21st century Holocaust. We demand photographic proof that the abductees are receiving medicines as a condition for transferring humanitarian aid medicines to the population of Gaza. Bringing the medicines is insufficient.
"We have to bring everyone alive. We must not give up on the murdered abductees, we must not leave a single kidnapped person in Gaza, there must not be another 136 Ron Aradim. Where are you, the world leader who sees war crimes and remains silent? No Qatari money will silence the cry of a baby in the tunnels, the cry of a bleeding girl or an old man crying out in pain. We were not allowed to be in the tunnel for one day, not for a month, and certainly not for 100 days. We were abandoned on the 136th of October, don't abandon us again. 136 cabinets is not a victory picture. The picture of victory is <> abductees who are returning home to us now!"
Wrong? We'll fix it! If you find a mistake in the article, please share with us