Recently released hostages and their families spoke at a rally at Tel Aviv’s “Hostages Square” on Saturday evening, calling for the attention of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the War Cabinet.
Raz Ben-Ami, a hostage recently released from Hamas captivity, spoke at the rally. Her husband Ohad remains captive.
“It is not easy for me to stand here. I decided to come because it’s an emergency. I returned from Hamas captivity after 54 days. I have a beloved husband in Hamas captivity. I won’t give up until he’s here. I will not live without him,” Ben-Ami said.
“Ten days ago I begged the cabinet, and [we all] warned them that fighting could lead to injury to the abductees. Unfortunately, we were right,” she lamented.
“Military action alone will not save the lives of the abductees. I beg you to promise that you will bring back the kidnapped alive; what are you waiting for?”
Danny Elgarat, whose brother Itzhak was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz, said that the families of captives are met with silence, receiving little to no communication from the government on the whereabouts of their loved ones.
Noam Perry, the daughter of Haim Perry who was also kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz, was present.
Ruby Chen, the American-Israeli father of 19-year-old hostage Itay Chen, also spoke.
Yagil Yaakov, 13, who was released after 52 days of Hamas captivity, recorded a reenactment of a propaganda video released by the Palestinian Islamic Jihad early in November.
“I miss my dad like crazy and also all the friends from the kibbutz who remained in Gaza,” he said.
“I want to tell Bibi that I really need my dad at home. I’m waiting for him so we can celebrate my bar mitzvah. As time passes, he and all the friends there are in greater danger. We don’t abandon hostages in the field.”