Israel Marks 500 Days Since War with Rallies Demanding Hostage Release
by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – On the 500th day since the war’s start, thousands across Israel participated in rallies, underscored by 500-minute fasts organized by relatives of those taken in the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, to press for the release of hostages.
Ahead of the nationwide demonstrations, recently freed hostage Ohad Ben Ami, who endured 16 months of captivity by Hamas, urged widespread participation, stating, “I intend to go outside and fight for them.”
At one of the rallies, a video was shown where Ben Ami discussed the psychological torment of his captivity and the strength he gained from knowing about ongoing protests calling for their release.
Ben Ami revealed, “I didn’t know what was happening outside, and our captors, of course, knew that. They told us that your government abandoned you, we can kill you at any moment, and if it were up to your government, we would have killed you long ago.”
He also highlighted the impact of seeing the massive scale of rallies, “We see [the rallies reached] hundreds of thousands, we see it reached over a million – wow. It’s not just our families; there are people in our nation who care about us, who want us to come back, who understand that this could happen to them too. I matter to someone, and someone wants to bring me back,” Ben Ami stated, emphasizing how this solidarity uplifted the captives. He further added, “That’s what kept us going, that’s what lifted us up, and that’s what will continue to lift us up.”
Ben Ami underscored the importance of continued rallies, saying, “You have no idea, no idea what strength this gives to everyone still there waiting for their turn to come home,” and reflected on the emotional toll and the friends still in captivity, “There’s no time, no time. Day by day, you see how people slowly change and how time takes its toll.”
Demonstrators on Namir Road in Tel Aviv displayed signs urging, ‘President Trump, leave no hostage behind – 500 days in hell.’
Thousands also participated in a fast that started at 11:40 a.m. and ended at 8 p.m., capped off with a rally at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, where participants symbolically broke a 500-minute fast to commemorate 500 days of captivity.
Varda Ben Baruch, grandmother of US-Israeli captive soldier Edan Alexandar, called for the hostages’ release, recited a blessing, and declared, “I want to break the fast and break their fate.”
Yael Alexandar, mother of captive Edan Alexandar, stated, “I am Yael Alexandar, and I haven’t breathed for 500 days.”
“President Trump, in the last two weeks, you brought back two American citizens, Sagui Dekel-Chen and Keith Siegel,” Yael stated. “Today, I ask you to bring my son Edan home to our family.”
She concluded her speech with the impactful refrain, “To give up on them is to give up on us!”
Edan Alexander’s release remains uncertain as he was not included in Phase 1 of the ceasefire negotiations with Hamas. His release is contingent on advancing to Phase 2, which has become a contentious issue within Israeli politics.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is facing significant pressure from his cabinet, particularly from his right-wing flank of his coalition, which threatens to topple his government if it agrees to move to Phase 2. This phase involves potentially withdrawing from Gaza, further complicating the decision-making process and the fate of the hostages.
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