Thousands of people gathered at Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square on Saturday to celebrate the 20th birthday of Naama Levy, who has been held captive for 260 days.
It was one of the first and most haunting videos to appear online in the wake of the October 7 attack. A cellphone video released by Hamas shows Levy, who was 19 at the time, being dragged by her hair at gunpoint by a terrorist in Gaza. Her hands are tied, her ankles slashed. Her pants are soaked in blood.
Eight months later, Levy is one of 120 people still being held captive in Gaza. 116 of them were among more than 250 hostages taken on October 7. A hostage-taking and ceasefire agreement in November secured the release of more than 100 hostages, while a handful were rescued. But fears are growing for those who remain. A senior Hamas official recently told CNN that “nobody has any idea” how many of them are still alive.
Their plight is the subject of regular anti-government protests in Israel, with many demonstrators calling on the Israeli leadership to negotiate a hostage deal and hold early elections.
On Saturday, Levy’s parents Ayelet Levy Shachar and Yoni Levy addressed the crowd at Hostages Square.
“Today I did not want to give a speech on the square. I just wanted to wish Naama a happy birthday and to speak to you, Naama, in the hope that you hear them and that these words reach you,” Levy’s mother said during her speech.
“I … wish you the most basic right you have as a human being – your freedom, which was taken from you eight and a half months ago,” her mother added.
Levy’s father Yoni said he wished his daughter could see how many people came to celebrate her birthday.
“I remember your laughter and I can hear your voice. I can imagine exactly what you would be doing today. We would have a table prepared for you, full of sweets, balloons and gifts. Like every year,” Yoni said during his speech at the assembly.
“How happy this day could have been. Instead, here you are. In the darkness. For 260 days. And here we are,” Yoni added.
“We all understand that 120 hostages cannot be released through military operations. We must be honest – 120 hostages will return home only through an agreement,” Yoni said.
Yoni also addressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly, saying: “Victory in war is not just victory in military battles. And it is not just about preserving the coalition at all costs. Victory in war is the ability to preserve the values of this nation for years to come. And victory is the ability to continue to be true to our values as Jews and Israelis.”
The gathering at Hostage Square was just one of several that took place in cities across Israel on Saturday.
Families of hostages held in Gaza also took part in protests in Jerusalem, Herzliya, Caesarea, Raanana, Be’er Sheva, Kiryat Gat and the town of Pardes Hanna-Karkur.
Many waved Israeli flags and held signs with pictures of the Israeli hostages.
“Alive! Alive! And not in body bags!”, “Hostage now! Bring them back alive immediately! The baby, the soldiers, the women, the men,” shouted demonstrators in Tel Aviv.
Other demonstrators shouted: “Elections now.”
“There is nothing more important, all hostages must return!” chanted demonstrators in Jerusalem.
In Caesarea, thousands of demonstrators took to the streets chanting: “You are the leader, you are guilty!”
In the town of Pardes Hanna-Karkur, demonstrators also demanded the release of all hostages and early elections. Some of them chanted: “We will not give up until we make it a better place to live.”
Former member of Israel’s War Cabinet Benny Gantz took part in a hostage-taking incident in Carmei Gat in the city of Kiryat Gat with members of Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Nir Oz was one of the kibbutzim that bore the brunt of the Hamas attack on October 7; numerous residents were killed or taken hostage.
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