Israelis gather nationwide to mark 600 days since hostages taken on Oct. 7: ‘Save Them Now’

Beginning at 6:29 a.m., the moment when Hamas launched its October 7, 2023 terrorist attack, Israelis gather at different locations around the country in the formation of the yellow hostage symbol.

The demonstrations, a call to free the 58 remaining hostages in Gaza, mark 600 days of war.

They gather in the predawn hours in the shallow waters of the Mediterranean Sea near the US Embassy branch in Tel Aviv, with the numbers 58 and 600 and “Save Them Now” spelled out in the sand.

People stand in a circle at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, wearing yellow shirts and holding yellow balloons, waiting for the moment when the digital board counting the days, hours, minutes and seconds of captivity switches from 599 to 600.

As the counter turns to 600, the circle releases their balloons and calls, “Bring them home now!”

People gather in a yellow formation on a grassy public knoll in Zichron Yaakov, tie a massive yellow hostage ribbon around Jaffa’s clocktower, hold yellow balloons in Ramat Aviv, and create a human yellow ribbon around intersections in Hadera, Holon, Kfar Saba, Nahalal Junction, Modiin and Emek Hefer.

A human chain forms along the main road from Na’an to Sitriya in the north, while in Jerusalem, residents gather together at the park near the home of Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, who has been heading Israel’s hostage negotiation team, for the morning service that include prayers for the new month. Critics note that no hostages, with the exception of US-Israeli national Edan Alexander, have been freed since Dermer took on the role over 100 days ago.

At 7:10 a.m., a group of bereaved parents stand in a park across from the Tel Aviv high-rise home of Knesset speaker Amir Ohana, speaking into a microphone, asking the Likud lawmaker to go out to his balcony and look at them.

“Go out on your porch and look at us,” says one father. “Our children were killed and assaulted on October 7. For 600 days, you have turned away from us. We won’t let this break us, and we’ll continue to fight.”

The bereaved parents say they are working on a proposal for legislation calling for new elections because the government refuses to create a state commission of inquiry, investigating the events that led to the Hamas terror attack of October 7.