From the Liveblog of
Sunday, April 27, 2025
Father of slain hostage Ori Danino: ‘With unity we will bring them home’
Jessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
Alon Gat, the younger brother of Carmel Gat, one of the “beautiful six” hostages killed in captivity, speaks at an event in Jerusalem about being taken captive from Kibbutz Be’eri with his young daughter on October 7 and ultimately escaping, while his wife, Yarden Roman-Gat, was taken hostage, his mother, Kinneret, was killed, and his sister was taken hostage.
His wife was released in November 2023, but his sister Carmel was murdered in Gaza in August 2024, and “could have been saved,” says Gat.
“The difference between life and death is very fine,” he says. “Let’s save lives.”
Yitzhak Danino, the brother of fellow slain captive Ori Danino, recites a prayer at the event, and says that all six in that tunnel were from different backgrounds.
“They were together, and only together can we bring them all back,” he says.
Michal Lobanov, the widow of Alex Lobanov, speaks about her younger son, Kai, now 1, who will never know his father.
“We can’t forget that there are children still waiting to see their fathers,” she says. “Let’s make sure they get to reunite with them.”
The evening ends with Lobanov’s brother reciting the names of the remaining 59 hostages.
At the conclusion of the event, Elhanan Danino, Ori’s father, brings all the family members of the six murdered hostages — Ori, Carmel, Alex, Almog Sarusi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin and Eden Yerushalmi — onstage to sing Hatikvah together.
“God Almighty, look at this nation, at this city, at these fans, fans of Beitar, fans of Hapoel, from all sides,” he says.
Danino says there are 6,000 people at the event in the capital’s Safra Square, 6,000 people for the six families.
“Call your mayors and each city should go sing and pray, because with unity, we will bring them home,” says Danino, his voice thick with tears. “Bring thousands and start bringing back Israeli unity.”
The Times of Israel Community.