Under the brooding sky on a southern Israel farm, the sporadic cracks of Gaza-bound artillery shells are drowned out by the cries of Israelis addressing hostages held across the border. Relatives of those captured during the October 7 attack by Hamas rigged up giant loudspeakers to a microphone in Nirim, a kibbutz community near the Gaza Strip, to broadcast messages of hope, love and loss.
The sounds of their pleas rushed out into the flat green fields in the direction of Hamas-ruled Gaza and its major southern city Khan Yunis, the focus of recent fighting less than 10 km away. “We are here, we are standing so close to you, we love you so much,” said relatives of 19-year-old Itay Chen, a dual US-Israeli national, over the loudspeaker.
Others also took the microphone in the hope that their messages reach loved ones after nearly 100 days in captivity.
The Hamas-led attack left around 1,140 dead in Israel, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on the official figures, with attackers also taking around 250 hostages. Israel says 132 of them remain in Gaza, including at least 25 believed to have been killed. A music festival in Reim, a short drive from Nirim, was the focal point of the attack — 364 people were killed there and dozens snatched, as per official figures.
Romi Gonen, 23, was among those captured at the rave. Her mother, Meirav Leshem Gonen, said it was vital the hostages knew that their loved ones were doing everything to get them back. “If any of the hostages can hear us… it’s very important that they know that we’re turning the world upside down (to rescue them),” she told AFP.
Shai Wenkert, whose 22-year-old son Omer was also taken from the rave, said he was in Nirim “because this is the closest area to the border”. “I came here… with big speakers, to call them and tell them that they have to be strong and believe that we’re doing everything we can.”
The relatives, united under the banner of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, carried placards with the images of their loved ones. The forum’s slogan “bring them home now” can be seen on posters, street signs and car stickers throughout Israel.
Efrat Machikawa, whose 79-year-old uncle Gadi Moses was taken from the nearby community of Nir Oz, said she had told him over the speakers “that his children are fine and waiting for him”. “When the terrorists went into his house, he went out of the safe room to negotiate with them,” she said. “He didn’t realise that they were not people, they were monsters.”
The families are increasingly aware that time is running out, and demand action from Israeli leaders. “Talking and empathy is not enough,” said Machikawa. “When we’re trying to save lives, the only thing to do is to bring them (hostages) back.”
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