Ahead of High Holidays, hostage families call on PM to ‘atone’ for not bringing back their loved ones

Ahead of the Jewish High Holidays, captives’ relatives speaking at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv call on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “atone” for his failure to return their loved ones from Gaza.

The High Holidays begin Monday night with Rosh Hashana, the Jewish New Year. Yom Kippur falls on October 2.

Hanna Cohen, aunt of slain captive Inbar Hayman — the last woman still held in captivity — addresses the premier, drawing jeers at the mention of his name.

“Benjamin Netanyahu, in what world are 48 hostages, citizens, alive and dead, abducted and not returned home for nearly two years?” she says, demanding the prime minister meet with the families and provide information on the conditions of their loved ones. “Is there any atonement for this? No!”

Alon Nimrodi, father of captive soldier Tamir Nimrodi, addresses the premier by his nickname, which also draws jeers: “Bibi Netanyahu, it’s time you grew a heart [and] had some regard for human life.”

“We’re just about at the holidays… more holidays I can’t celebrate, can’t mark, can’t enjoy at the holiday table with my family without knowing what is going on with my son.”

“Bibi, at the start of the new year — a new Jewish year — show us what Jewish values are. Bring back our sons and daughter,” he says. “Not with dangerous and pointless fighting but with an immediate, comprehensive deal. We can deal with the rest later.”

“Yom Kippur is coming,” he says to Netanyahu. “Atone for your sins [and] the sins of your militant and irresponsible government.”

Nimrodi, whose son is one of two captives whose lives Israeli officials have expressed grave concern for, adds that many people, including hostage families, often falsely refer to only 20 living hostages out of the remaining 48.

“There are 22 hostages still considered alive — 22,” he says. “That’s what appears in the list that has been given to the mediators. I saw it with my own eyes.”

In keeping with its custom in recent weeks, the Hostages Square rally also features a speech from a reservist calling for the end of the war. The soldier, Shahar Varon, calls on the government to leverage the army’s “impressive achievements” to reach a truce-hostage deal. Like other reservists who have spoken at Hostages Square, he stops short of calling on soldiers to refuse to take part in the operation to take over Gaza City.

The Tel Aviv rally ends with a livestream from the main hostage families’ rally as it begins near Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem, with attendees at both gatherings singing Hatikva, the national anthem.