Sporting a sticker on her shirt that learn “328” — the variety of days her son has been held hostage — Rachel Goldberg-Polin went close to the Israel-Gaza border on Thursday to ship a message.
“Hersh! It is Mother… I pray to God he brings you again. Proper now. I really like you, keep robust, survive,” she yelled right into a microphone in hopes the 23-year-old Israeli-American would possibly hear her.
She was joined by dozens of different kin of hostages who’re nonetheless held within the Gaza Strip practically 11 months since Hamas’s unprecedented assault on southern Israel triggered the continuing battle.
The Palestinian militants seized 251 hostages in the course of the October 7 assault, 103 of whom are nonetheless captive in Gaza together with 33 the navy says are lifeless.
Those that made the journey on Thursday to kibbutz Nirim embraced and supported each other as they tried to search out phrases of consolation and encouragement.
Jon Polin, who appeared along with his spouse on the Democratic Nationwide Conference in Chicago this month, additionally addressed their son, who was kidnapped on October 7 from the Nova music pageant.
“Folks all around the world are praying on your return,” he stated, earlier than reciting a Hebrew prayer historically recited by dad and mom for his or her kids, drawing tears from the group.
– ‘We’re not giving up’ –
The October 7 assault resulted within the deaths of 1,199 folks, largely civilians, based on an AFP tally primarily based on Israeli official figures.
Israel’s retaliatory navy marketing campaign has killed not less than 40,602 folks in Gaza, based on the Hamas-run territory’s well being ministry. The UN rights workplace says many of the lifeless are girls and youngsters.
Each Saturday night, kin of the hostages take part in demonstrations in Tel Aviv to stress on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to strike a deal that might safe the hostages’ launch.
However Thursday’s ceremony was largely devoid of politics, as one after the other family members addressed the captives immediately.
“Dad, you are coming again, we’re not giving up, do you hear me? I miss you, I am going to do something to carry you in my arms, we’d like you,” Ella Ben Ami stated to her father Ohad Ben Ami.
Simply final week Ella stated after she emerged from a gathering with Netanyahu that she had “a heavy and troublesome feeling” {that a} ceasefire deal “is not going to occur quickly”.
Yarden Gonen, whose sister Romi was additionally taken from the Nova pageant, spoke a couple of phrases to the “Hamas leaders” in Arabic.
“Sufficient! This isn’t Islam! Free them!” she stated.
The gathering ended with about 20 members of the group dashing in the direction of the Gaza Strip shouting “We’re coming!”
Israeli troopers seemed to be caught off guard earlier than blocking them from continuing.
