Female relatives deliver emotional plea for the release of women held in Gaza

Ofri Levy breaks down in tears as she recalls at a rally on Hostages Square in Tel Aviv how her sister-in-law Shiri Bibas “defended her sons with her own body” from Hamas terrorists who abducted the two children and their parents to Gaza on October 7.

“Dear Shiri, we miss your distinct laughter, and sitting down with you and watching the kids horse around together,” says Levy at the rally Saturday, which focuses on women in recognition of International Women’s Day.

The Bibas family — 4-year-old Ariel and his baby brother Kfir, Shiri and her husband Yarden – were abducted from Kibbutz Nir Oz. The filmed image of Shiri hugging her two redheaded children surrounded by terrorists is an icon of the plight of the hostages.

Shira Albag, the mother of hostage Liri Albag, who turned 19 last month, tells the thousands of people in attendance that Shabbat “is not longer Shabbat” without her laughter and cooking.

Simona Steinbrecher, whose daughter Doron, 30, was abducted from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, notes that her daughter – “who has kind, laughing eyes, blond hair and endless love for people and animals alike” – says, “This is International Women’s Day but it’s also the Women’s Day of Doron Steinbrecher and the other hostages.”