From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, May 28, 2025
600 days since October 7, freed hostages plea for remaining captives to be released
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
Six hundred days since October 7, 2023, when terrorists invaded southern Israel in a massacre that sparked the ongoing war in Gaza, former hostages issue pleas for the remaining captives to be freed.
In a column published by Haaretz, former hostage Or Levy, whose wife Eynav Levy was murdered on October 7, says that every second in Gaza is dangerous.
“On a day like this, I ask you to fight. Fight for those left behind. Fight for their families, who never rest for a moment. Fight for those who are looking to close the circle, and bury their loved ones,” he writes.
“Fifty-eight people were left behind. Fifty-eight families who stopped their lives on that damned Saturday, and since then — haven’t returned. Haven’t returned to life. Haven’t returned to smile. Haven’t returned to breathe,” he writes.
“During my time in captivity, we talked a lot about our luck in being born in the State of Israel. So I was sure that they would not forget us, that they would not rest until we all returned. And that is really true — I see the mobilization of everyone,” he writes.
“But unfortunately, it is not true for the people who decide, for the decision-makers. Therefore, I turn to you again — the elected officials, the leaders of our country: Please, do not forget them. Please, bring them home,” says Levy, who was held for 491 days. “Because they do not have time. Every second there — hurts. Every second there — is dangerous. And at any moment — someone could die there.”
Eliya Cohen speaks at an event in the United States, explaining the hellish conditions for those held hostage in Gaza.
“I was a Hamas captive for 505 days. We were taken to an underground tunnel and chained,” Cohen tells an event at Israel’s consulate in Los Angeles, according to the Ynet news site.
“The terrorists would only remove the chains once every two or three months, to allow us to bathe. Every night you go to bed with one thought: ‘What am I going to do tomorrow to get a piece of pita bread?'” he says.
“600 days that our brothers have been in captivity. There are still 58 kidnapped. We must not give up.”
Cohen and Levy were returned to Israel dangerously emaciated.
Terror groups in the Gaza Strip are holding 58 hostages, including 57 of the 251 abducted by Hamas-led terrorists on October 7, 2023.
They include the bodies of at least 35 confirmed dead by the IDF, and 20 are believed to be alive.
There are grave concerns for the well-being of three others, Israeli officials have said.
The Times of Israel Community.