Hostage’s father calls on public to join Tel Aviv vigil for return of those held in Gaza

The father of one of the hostages held in Gaza calls on the public to join the vigils at Tel Aviv’s Kaplan Street to call for the return of those who have been kidnapped.

Eli Albag’s daughter Liri, 18, a surveillance soldier at the Nahal Oz army base, was taken captive by Hamas terrorists on October 7, as Hamas terrorists took control of the IDF post.

“I see the pictures of the thousands gathering in London and in New York in solidarity, but I don’t see it here in Israel,” he tells Channel 12 news, adding that members of the government have also not attended the vigil outside the Defense Ministry and the Israel Defense Forces headquarters.

“We are there every day. Come today at 7 p.m. so that everyone understands how important this is to the people,” he says.

Albag also addresses concerns that some of the hostages may be freed before others as they hold dual citizenship.

“Liri is one of the 229 hostages in Gaza, but we want them all home at once,” he says. “There should be no selection as was done during the Holocaust.”

Albag had just finished her training course and was on the job for just three days before being abducted.

Albag’s mother, Shira, last heard from her daughter at 6:30 a.m. that day, when Albag reported that she was in a field shelter, trying to avoid the rocket barrage.

When she arrived back home, Albag’s boyfriend showed Shira a Telegram video posted by Hamas, in which they were able to identify Albag being kidnapped to Gaza.