Israeli Hostage Families, Supporters Hold Shabbat Service in Jerusalem After March of Solidarity
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by Troy O. Fritzhand
Family members, friends, and supporters of Israelis and other nationalities who were taken hostage on Oct. 7 by Hamas terrorists during a deadly attack march after they began a few days march towards Jerusalem, in Latrun, Israel, Nov. 17, 2023. Photo: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun
The families of the hostages kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7 who departed from Tel Aviv by foot earlier this week arrived on Friday in Jerusalem, where they held a large Kabbalat Shabbat service in front of Israel’s parliament building to welcome the Jewish day of rest.
Israelis joined hands this week in a days-long march to call for the unconditional release of the roughly 240 hostages currently held by Palestinian terrorist groups in the Gaza Strip.
The march began on Tuesday. After Shabbat ends on Saturday evening, the thousands of supporters are planning a demonstration outside the prime minister’s office to demand the government find a solution to return the hostages, who include young children and the elderly.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his war cabinet have stated that the release of the hostages is a top priority as military operations continue in Gaza to wipe out Hamas terrorists and secure the hostages’ release.
Qatar, in coordination with the US, has been seeking to negotiate a deal between Hamas and Israel that includes the release of dozens of those being held captive. Meanwhile, Israeli soldiers have been fighting Hamas in Gaza, seeking to wipe out the Palestinian terror group. Israel has said it would not agree to a ceasefire unless all the hostages were released.
Netanyahu has also stated that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have intelligence on the potential location of the hostages, which could mean rescue operations in the coming days as Israel advances in Gaza.
So far, Hamas has released only four hostages in two separate occasions. Another hostage was rescued by Israeli forces, who also recovered the bodies of two other hostages found this week near the Al Shifa Hospital — the Gaza City medical complex that Israeli and US intelligence say is home to Hamas’ main command center.
Netanyahu’s office confirmed this week that one of the hostages gave birth while in the captivity of Hamas.
