NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) — A rally was held outside of the United Nations Headquarters in Midtown on Sunday afternoon to call for the immediate and unconditional release of 133 hostages being held in Gaza on the six-month anniversary of the Hamas attack on southern Israel.
The rally, which was organized by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum and 150 other New York-area Jewish and non-Jewish organizations, began at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, located near East 47th Street and Second Avenue, at noon.
About 7,000 protestors gathered at the plaza, the largest gathering of its kind outside of Israel, organizers said. Many of the demonstrators were wearing or flying Israeli flags, or holding posters with pictures of the hostages.
Among the event speakers were senior politicians, hostage family members, community leaders, rabbis and released hostages, including Louis Har, who was held in captivity for 129 days before being rescued by the IDF.
“People might think that after 129 days in Hamas captivity there are easier things to do than to fly here and stand with you—but I can't start healing until they are all back. None of us can,” Har said.
Family members of hostages took the opportunity to recount their first-hand experiences with loss, and express their concern over those who are still missing.
Two of Shira Matalon’s uncles, Yossi and Eli Sharabi, were seized by Hamas. Eli’s wife and two daughters were killed during the attack, while Eli remains in captivity.
A recent Hamas video showing Yossi’s body confirmed his death to the family, and an IDF probe reported on by the Times of Israel found that he was likely killed inadvertently by an IDF strike.
“In the past six months, we sat Shiva at my home, honoring the memory of four of my most favorite people in the world. Eli’s return and Yossi’s proper burial is the least we can hope for in this devastating time,” Matalon said.
“I keep hearing people talking about cost,” Matalon continued. “Do not talk to me about ‘cost.’ Human lives have no cost. I’ve already paid the greatest cost.”
Rachel Goldberg-Polin, whose son, Hersh, was seized while at the Nova Music Festival also spoke, taking time to thank the crowd of people for their continued support of the cause.
“We have felt a lot in these last 184 days. But we have never felt alone, and we have never felt so much love from so many people who we’ve never even met,” Goldberg-Polin said.
Elected officials, including Queens Congressman Jerry Nadler, spoke and echoed the message of “bring them home.”
Nadler was met with disapproval from the crowd in part of his speech when he encouraged the U.S. government to push for humanitarian aid to reach Palestinians, with some at the rally claiming it was an improper forum to discuss that issue.
Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett took to the podium after meeting with families of the hostages.
While they did not all speak, other officials, like Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine, NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, and NYC Councilmembers Gale Brewer and Eric Dinowitz attended the rally.
The Israeli national anthem “Hatikvah” was played, and the crowd chanted “let them go” repeatedly over the course of the rally to emphasize the demonstration’s singular purpose.
“I'm demanding all the relevant leaders—you know who they are, from all countries and governments, including my own: Strike a deal! Bring them home, NOW!,” Har said during his speech.
A list of rally speakers can be viewed below.
• Rabbi Jonathan Kroll, Principal of SAR High School
• Freed hostage Louis Har
• The Argentinian Consul General Pablo Piñeiro Aramburu
• Congress member Dan Goldman
• Ruby Chen, father of Itai Chen
• Rachel Goldberg Polin
• Rabbi Ami Hirsch, Stephen Wise Free Synagogue
• Congress member Brandon Williams (R)
• Shira Matalon, niece of Eli and Yossi Sharabi
• Congress member Jerry Nadler
• Lilou Lifshitz, great-granddaughter of Oded Lifshitz
• Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett
• Mark Treyger, CEO of JCRC-NY