People all over Israel came together on Wednesday to remember 600 days since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023. They showed support for the families of the hostages and asked again for the release of the 58 people still held in Gaza.
At exactly 6:29 a.m., the time the attack started, citizens gathered in many cities. They formed human shapes and signs to show hope and strength.
Near the US Embassy in Tel Aviv, people stood in the shallow waters of the Mediterranean Sea, making yellow ribbon shapes. Others in places like Zichron Yaakov stood on grassy hills, forming messages like “Save Them Now,” “58,” and “600” using their bodies.
In Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, people wore yellow shirts and held yellow balloons while standing in a big circle. They watched a digital counter that showed how many days the hostages had been missing. When the counter reached 600 days, they shouted, “Bring them home now!” and let the balloons float into the sky.
A large yellow ribbon was tied around the old clock tower in Jaffa to show support.
Similar protests happened in many other cities such as Hadera, Holon, Kfar Saba, Nahalal Junction, Modiin, and Emek Hefer. People made human chains and yellow ribbon shapes in all these places.
In the north, a long human chain was formed along the road from Na’an to Sitriya, showing the wide support for the hostages across the country.
In Jerusalem, people gathered in a park near the home of Minister Ron Dermer, who leads Israel’s hostage negotiation team. They prayed for the new month and asked again for the safe return of the captives.
At 7:10 a.m., a group of parents who lost children in the attack stood outside the home of Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana in Tel Aviv. One father spoke into a microphone, asking the leader to come out and face them.
He reminded him that their children were hurt or killed on October 7. He said leaders have ignored them for 600 days, but they will keep fighting and won’t give up.
These grieving parents also called for new elections. They said they are angry that the government has not set up a full investigation into what happened on October 7 and what followed.
