From the Liveblog of
Saturday, October 11, 2025
Protesters read out names of returning hostages at 100th week of Jerusalem rallies
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
Protesters at the weekly hostages rally in Jerusalem read out the name of each of the hostages, living and dead, and punctuate each name with a call of “Returning!” to mark their upcoming release after 100 weeks of demonstrations.
Yael Engel Lichi, the aunt of Ofir Engel, who was taken hostage from his girlfriend’s house in Kibbutz Be’eri on October 7 and released in November 2023, speaks about those frightening days of his absence.
She also speaks about Yossi Sharabi, the father of Engel’s girlfriend, who was taken hostage and killed after 100 days of captivity, likely as a result of an IDF strike.
“We so hoped we would meet him,” says Engel Lichi. “We’re all waiting for the moment when we see the families hugging, and we will hold those burying their loved ones. We don’t forget anyone.”
Romi Efrat, 24, who was an officer serving in COGAT at the Erez Crossing, speaks about the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack and about hostage Tamir Nimrodi.
She recalls gathering the personal items of the soldiers killed or abducted in the attack, and finding a note in Nimrodi’s handwriting that spoke to his soulful spirit, of helping others, of making good friends, of not offending anyone.
“Tamir, there is no day I don’t think about you and the others,” says Efrat. “We can all heal when they are all home.”
The Times of Israel Community.