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Illuminated Chanukah march for the hostages
Participants held lights and yellow balloons to raise awareness of the plight of those still held captive in Gaza
December 12, 2023 17:38
Participants held lights and yellow balloons to raise awareness of the plight of those still held captive in Gaza
December 12, 2023 17:38Relatives and supporters of the hostages held by Hamas staged a Chanukah demonstration from Downing Street to Trafalgar Square on Monday.
Orit Eyal-Fibeesh, one of the participants and organsiers of the event said the biggest fear of the families of hostages held by Hamas was that “after nine weeks in captivity people are going to forget about them”.
She said she attended the demonstration “so that would never happen”. Speaking to the JC, Orit said: “I and so many other people have made a promise to them that we will not stop until every single hostage is home.”
Arranged by the Hostages Families Forum UK, hundreds of volunteers marched from Downing Street to Trafalgar Square carrying lights and ballons.
The march coincided with the Chanukah lighting on the square, which was hosted by the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.
Ari, the spokesperson for the Hostages Families Forum UK said the event and lighting “cast its glow on the captives in Gaza”.
He added: "We are thrilled with the overwhelming support and enthusiasm shown by the participants. The Trafalgar Square Torches March has truly become a symbol of unity, hope, and solidarity."
Some 137 people remain in captivity after other hostages - many of them women and children - were returned during a pause in the fighting. Terrorist organisation Hamas kidnapped around 240 people into Gaza on October 7.
Orit said it was hard to stay positive after nine weeks of calling for Hamas to release the hostages, which still include women and small children.
“It is very easy to lose focus or hope, but there are some 100 people still not home, and we must fight for all of them. We have an obligation to raise awareness of their reality.”
She said campaigners like her feared there was a growing “fatigue” in the wider population about the plight of those still held hostage.
“I think the danger is people move on and they forget, but we need to remind them that there are people still out there.”
She said her hope was “kept alive by the unity in the Jewish community in the UK. I have never seen Israelis and the Jewish community so close and together. That has been the light in the darkness, and we will not stop until we bring everyone home.”
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