Thousands of women gather in Tel Aviv in support of hostages in Gaza

The relatives of those held by Hamas ‘live with a timer now that’s always on’.

Thousands of women gathered in Tel Aviv on Sunday to draw attention to the plight of the 239 hostages held in Gaza.

“Now, now, now!” chanted the demonstrators assembled at what supporters of the hostages have begun calling Hostages Square. The rally, headlined “Speak Up for Your Sister,” was spearheaded by several Israeli women’s organizations in support of the hostages.

Cochav Elkayam-Levy, a law professor and international human rights expert, addressed the rally and slammed the “silence” of the international women’s groups and human rights organizations that have refused to unequivocally condemn the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7 and its continuing violation of human rights standards in holding the hostages and refusing to allow the Red Cross to see them. 

The crimes against the victims of October 7 “were not only crimes against Jews and Israelis, but crimes against humanity,” Elkayam-Levy said.

“Their silence doesn’t only turn their back on these women and children, but on women and children everywhere,” she urged those organizations to speak out. “It’s late – but it’s not too late for them to raise their voices.”

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Thousands of Women Rally in Tel Aviv in Support of Israeli Hostages in Gaza (Haaretz)
Speakers at the demonstration called on women and international organizations to speak out and condemn Hamas' hostage-taking

The Long Wait of the Hostages’ Families By Ruth Margalit (New Yorker)
The relatives of those held by Hamas “live with a timer now that’s always on.”

Hamas hostages: The faces of those taken from Israel to Gaza (BBC)
The Israeli military says that 242 people are being held hostage by Hamas.

VIDEO: Man shares emotional toll of having family taken hostage (ABC)
Israeli families who had relatives taken hostage by Hamas during the October 7 terror attack continue to endure uncertainty about the fate of their loved ones. Aloni Moran says his two sisters, a brother-in-law and his niece were taken hostage.

Photo: Relatives of missing and captives Israelis at a rally in support of them in Tel Aviv, Sunday (Allison Kaplan Sommer)