Thousands rally across Israel to mark 600 days since Oct. 7 Hamas assault

Thousands of Israelis rally in different parts of the country to mark 600 days since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault, when some 1,200 people were killed and 251 were taken hostage, and to call for the return of the remaining 58 hostages.

Reichman University students march the 15 kilometers from Herzliya to Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, where they join students from Tel Aviv University. Meanwhile, in Jerusalem, students and faculty at the Hebrew University’s Mount Scopus campus gather for a 58-minute demonstration for the 58 hostages still held captive.

Hundreds of young Israelis learning in pre-army preparatory programs take part in a series of marches that depart every two hours from Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square and follow a path around the nearby Defense Ministry compound.

A motorcade of dozens of cars drives from Latrun to Tel Aviv, and hundreds of people participate in the silent sit-in held by Shift 101 at Tel Aviv’s historic Bialik Square.

Maccabit Meir, aunt to hostage twins Ziv Berman and Gali Berman, says that victory in Israel can’t be achieved without the return of the brothers to their mother’s arms, along with the return of the rest of the hostages. Only then can Israeli society heal, she says.

“I hope you are able to remember your hopes and dreams and transmit your thoughts to one another even if you’re not together,” Meir tells her nephews.

Meir is joined by Ruti Strum, the mother of hostage Eitan Horn and released hostage Iair Horn, as well as Dalia Cusnir, the Horns’ sister-in-law and Niva Wenkert, the mother of released hostage Omer Wenkert.

Singer-songwriter Rona Kenan joins them and softly leads the gathering in singing ‘Sahki, sahki,’ a social protest song written by Shaul Tchernikovsky 120 years ago.