From the Liveblog of
Thursday, August 29, 2024
‘Do you hear us?’ Hostage relatives shout to loved ones via loudspeakers on Gaza border
Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
Hostage family members gather at the Gaza border to call, yell and scream into powerful loudspeakers, with the hope their loved ones being held in captivity can hear their words.
“Edan Alexander,” calls Varda Ben Baruch, grandmother of the 20-year-old lone soldier from Tenafly, New Jersey, who was taken captive on October 7. “It’s Grandma and Grandpa, you are our soul, do you hear us? Idanaleh! Mom and Dad are waiting for you, we’re worried about you and waiting for your return home. Be strong, you’re strong, survive, we’re doing everything we can for you and for all the other hostages.”
With words of prayer, beseeching God, and, at times, berating the Israeli government, parents, siblings, children and grandparents call out to their loved ones, held hostage for 328 days in the tunnels and hideouts of Gaza.
“Nimrod, Dad is speaking, we’re here at the border,” calls Yehuda Cohen, whose son, Nimrod, was a soldier when he was taken hostage on October 7 from the Nahal Oz army base. “I will not give up until you come home, I will run everywhere in the world until we have a deal that will free you and the other hostages.”
Some parents sob, including Shira Albag, mother of Liri Albag, 19, one of the female surveillance soldiers held captive. Liri’s sister screams into the microphone, begging her not to give up.
Eli Shtivi, father of hostage Idan Shtivi, drapes himself in a Jewish prayer shawl as he calls out to his son, telling him that Israel will give up on controlling Gaza’s Philadelphi Corridor in order to get him and the other hostages home, referring to one of the sticking points in the current hostage negotiations.
“It’s Mama, Hersh,” calls Rachel Goldberg-Polin in English, speaking to her son, Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, who was taken captive from a field shelter near the Supernova desert rave on October 7. “It’s day 328. We are all here. All the families of the remaining 107 hostages,” she says as she blesses him, telling her son that she is giving him the traditional blessing she offers during her morning prayers and on Friday nights.
“May God bless you and keep you. May God’s light shine upon you, and may God be gracious to you. May you feel God’s Presence within you always, and may you find peace,” says Goldberg-Polin.
