Israeli President Isaac Herzog speaks during a 24-hour rally for hostages marking 100 days since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas, at "Hostage Square" in Tel Aviv, on January 14, 2024. Photo by Miriam Alster/Flash90
At certain points, his speech was booed and members of the audience yelled, “Now! Now!” signaling disapproval of the government’s handling of the hostage crisis.
By Vered Weiss, World Israel News
Israeli President Isaac Herzog addressed crowds at a rally in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square on Sunday marking the 100 days since October 7th.
At certain points, his speech was booed as members of the audience yelled, “Now! Now!” signaling disapproval of the government’s handling of the hostage crisis.
He began the speech with, “One hundred days of isolation. One hundred days in which hostages — babies, children, elderly, women, and men, wounded and sick — are held by despicable Hamas terrorists.”
He continued, “They are held with diabolical cruelty. In the dark, in tunnels, in terrible suffering.”
Herzog stressed that the issue of freeing the hostages would remain as an essential goal.
He said, “We cannot allow the issue of the hostages to fall from the public and global agenda, until the very last one of the hostages is freed.”
Herzog added, “I commit to continue acting to ensure this, in every way and with every tool at my disposal. For their sake, and for our sake.”
He then spoke directly to the 130 hostages still held in Gaza, “I am speaking from here to the hostages, our brothers and sisters, whoever can hear me — we are not giving up on you.”
Herzog continued, “We have not forgotten you. We are all working and will continue to work here in Israel and around the world 24/7 in order to bring you home!”
The President of Israel then switched to English and urged the world to take responsibility and advocate for the release of the hostages, “I call upon the entire family of nations to do your part. This isn’t just our battle. It is a battle for the entire world.”
He added, “Stand with life and liberty. Stand with freedom and democracy, against barbarism and hate.”
It is estimated that 300,000 people attended the 24 hour rally to raise awareness of the plight of the hostages.
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