Hostage activists hold online protest amid ongoing Iran attacks

Three hundred people join a virtual meeting tonight of Mishmeret 101 (Shift 101), the silent, white-wearing protest group that revolves around hostage parents, meeting several times a week in front of government buildings as part of the struggle to bring the hostages home.

The group, which first began gathering in November 2024, isn’t able to meet in person right now, given the IDF Home Front Command restrictions on public gatherings during the ongoing war with Iran.

“We felt we had to bring it from the asphalt to this place,” says Yelli, one of the organizers. “We had to keep our foot on the gas.”

Most of the attendees wear white, and include family members of hostages and released hostages, including Viki Cohen, mother of hostage Nimrod Cohen; Dvora Idan, whose son, Tsahi Idan, was killed in captivity; Lee Siegel, the brother of released hostage Keith Siegel; Niva Wenkert, whose son, Omer Wenkert, was released from captivity; and Maccabit Meyer, the aunt of hostages Ziv and Gali Berman.

“I feel like I’m climbing the walls at home,” says Meyer, who is a regular at the Shift 101 gatherings and other protests for the hostages. “I feel a sense of desperation without the ability to go out and fight for them.”

Meyer, along with others, says that the worries for their loved ones have only grown during the opening of another war front.

“They can’t crawl to any safe space, or hear what is happening,” says Meyer, mentioning that the family has been told that the twins have not been held captive together after being taken hostage from their homes in Kibbutz Kfar Aza on October 7, 2023.

Viki Cohen, whose son Nimrod was abducted from a burning tank, says “it’s time to end this saga,” adding: “We’re hoping maybe the process with Iran will allow the prime minister to feel secure enough to end the war in Gaza. I will not give up on my son.”