FAMILIES of hostages still held in Gaza yesterday pleaded for their release as protests were held across Israel to mark 500 days of war.
Relatives took part in a 500-minute fast while marches blocked roads in towns and cities.
ReutersFamilies of hostages still held in Gaza pleaded for their release as protests were held across Israel to mark 500 days of war[/caption]
Ten-year-old Emily Hand, released during the November 2023 ceasefire, told a conference that her ‘dreams are not always good ones’Dan Charity
Released hostages spoke at rallies and told of the horrific conditions they were held in.
One freed captive lost nearly 4st — but was given huge amounts of food including rotting vegetables ahead of his release so he did not look emaciated.
Ten-year-old Emily Hand, released during the November 2023 ceasefire, told a conference that her “dreams are not always good ones”.
She said: “I miss my kibbutz, my friends, and the people we lost.” Ohad Ben Ami, 56, released ten days ago, said: “There were six of us in terrible conditions in six square metres (65sq ft).
“I appeal to the government and people of Israel: Keep going, go out, fight.”
Levi Ben Baruch, whose nephew Edan Alexander, 21, is still being held, led a prayer for the return of hostages in front of PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem.
He said: “Our hearts are torn apart.”
Shimi Calderon, uncle of recently released hostage Ofer Calderon, said: “Three months ago, he weighed 25kg (55lb) less.
“When Hamas realised he would be among those freed, they fattened him with rotten veg.”
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas killed about 1,200 people in Israel and took 251 hostages.
Of those, 73 remain in Gaza of whom 36 are believed to be dead. On Thursday, the bodies of up to five killed in Gazan captivity will be returned.
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