Update May 23, 2024: Note some updated, more descriptive photo captions!
I don’t believe I’m writing this. Over 130 hostages are still in Hamas captivity – more than 225 days now. Only 18 countries signed a petition to release the Israeli hostages held by the terror regime Hamas. For the record, these countries are: Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, and the USA. The other 175 member states of the UN probably don’t care!
Montana Tucker sings the Israeli anthem “HaTikva” (hope) at a rally for the release of the hostages in Hamas captivity
Last Saturday I was at the “hostage square” in Tel Aviv to show my support for the families of the hostages. Four ambassadors to Israel – USA, UK, Austria and Germany – participated and gave a speech. I’m deeply troubled to say that not one member of the current Israeli government joined that event.
Eden Golan, the Israeli participant at the recent Eurovision Song Contest, sang her original “October Rain” song. The Eurovision committee had deemed the name and the original song lyrics “political” (what’s political about a holocaust trauma?). Netta Barzilai, the 2018 winner of the Eurovision contest, also showed her support with her performance at the event.
I won’t write much more, but I will share a lot of photos. There was hardly a person among the tens of thousands of Israelis at the event that didn’t cry at one point or another. We want our hostages back, alive! #BringThemHomeNow
Eurovision song contest participant Eden Golan rehearsing the original version of “Hurricane” prior to her performance for the release of the Israeli hostages in GazaFamilies and friends of hostages at the rally on day 225 at hostage squareRally on day 225 at hostage squareRally on day 225 at hostage squareFamilies and friends of hostages at the rally on day 225 at hostage squareFamilies and friends of hostages at the rally on day 225 at hostage squareFamilies and friends of hostages at the rally on day 225 at hostage squareRally on day 225 at hostage squareDani Miran, father of the hostage Omri Miran, speaks at the rally for the release of the hostages who have been in Hamas captivity for 225 daysFamily members speak at the rally for the release of the hostages who have been in Hamas captivity for 225 daysRally on day 225 at hostage squareLola Marsh singing at the hostage squareAustrian Ambassador to Israel Nikolaus Lutterotti speaks at a weekly rally for the release of the hostages in Hamas captivity for 225 daysFamilies and friends of hostages at the rally on day 225 at hostage squareAyala Luzon Yahalomi, sister of Hamas hostage Ohad Yahalomi, speaks at the rally for the release of the hostages on day 225 of the abduction by Hamas terroristsFamilies and friends of hostages at the rally on day 225 at hostage squareFormer Eurovision contest winner Netta Barzilai singing at the hostage squareGerman Ambassador to Israel Steffen Seibert speaks at a weekly rally for the release of the hostages in Hamas captivity for 225 daysGerman Ambassador to Israel Steffen Seibert hugs a father of one of the hostages in Hamas captivityItzik Horn, father of Argentinian-Israeli brothers Eitan and Iair Horn, speaks at the rally for the release of the hostages held by the Palestinian Hamas terror organizationRally on day 225 at hostage squareBritish Ambassador to Israel Simon Walters speaks at a weekly rally for the release of the hostages in Hamas captivity for 225 daysAmanda Damari, mother of the hostage Emily Tehila Damari, glances at the British Ambassador to Israel Simon Walters as he speaks at a weekly rally for the release of the hostages in Hamas captivityFamilies and friends of hostages at the rally on day 225 at hostage squareRally on day 225 at hostage squareRally on day 225 at hostage squareEvgenia Kozlov, mother of Russian-Israeli hostage Andrey Kozlov, speaks at the rally for the release of the hostages held in Hamas captivity for 225 daysRally on day 225 at hostage squareSahar Calderon (16), herself a released hostage, speaks for the release of all remaining hostages, including the release of her fatherUS ambassador to Israel Jacob J. Lew speaks at a weekly rally for the release of the hostages in Hamas captivity for 225 daysEurovision song contest participant Eden Golan singing the original version of “Hurricane” for the first time in public at a rally for the release of the hostages held by HamasYael Alexander, mother of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, speaks at the rally for the release of the hostages held by HamasYael Alexander, mother of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander, addresses the crowd at the rally for the release of the hostages held by Hamas for 225 days and countingYael Alexander looks over to a sign bearing the face of her son Edan Alexander, a hostage kept by the Palestinian Hamas terror regime in GazaRachel Goldberg-Polin, mother of American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin who has been mutilated and abducted by Hamas, speaks at the rally for the release of the hostagesRally on day 225 at hostage squareFor Rachel Goldberg-Polin, mother of American-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, “hope is mandatory”. Because of her fight for the release of the Hamas hostages, Rachel Goldberg-Polin has recently been named one of 100 most influential people by the Time magazine.Montana Tucker sings the Israeli anthem “HaTikva” (hope) at a rally for the release of the hostages in Hamas captivityMontana Tucker sings the Israeli anthem “HaTikva” (hope) at a rally for the release of the hostages in Hamas captivityRally on day 225 at hostage squareRally on day 225 at hostage squareRally on day 225 at hostage square
