Since October 7th, hostage square in Tel Aviv has been the place where hope and despair have come together, where grief and determination co-mingle. The square has become a symbol of resilience for Israelis who continue to hold out hope for the release of loved ones held hostage in Gaza since October 7th.
I was in in hostage square last March as a part of a rabbinic mission to Israel. While there, I had the chance to meet the aunt of now 24-year-old Alon Ohel, who was kidnapped on October 7th from a bomb shelter outside of the Reim music festival. Alon’s aunt told us all about her nephew – a gifted musician, a devoted friend and family member. She noted that no one had heard from Alon since his abduction. The only information the family had was a Hamas video of Alon being carried off to Gaza on October 7th.
Three days ago, Alon’s family learned that he is still alive, held in Hamas tunnels since his abduction and chained to the floor. As his family noted in a statement, “We are happy and excited to know that Alon is alive, but we are also shaken and horrified by the difficult physical and mental state that Alon is in, and the abuse that he and the other abductees are still undergoing.”
This abuse was on full display when Or Levy, Ohad Ben Ami and Eli Sharabi came home last week. As they left Gaza, these three men were paraded on a stage and forced to publicly thank their captors. They were emaciated and malnourished, so obviously abused over the course of their year and a half in bondage. Their bodies reminded us of the skeletal figures met by liberators of Auschwitz over eighty years ago.
Hostage Square in Tel Aviv is not just a physical place; it represents a collective space for hope, and the ongoing call for justice. Since October 7th, it has been a focal point for Israelis and their families who continue to demand the safe return of loved ones held hostage in Gaza.
As we look ahead to the possibility of more hostages returning this Saturday, we are reminded that we who have the capacity to build such spaces must continue to have the courage to demand that all hostages are returned home.
Although Alon Ohel is not a part of the first phase of returns, we continue to hold out hope that he, too, will come home as soon as possible.
His story, and those of countless others still being held captive, underscore the pain, suffering, and cruelty that continues in Gaza.
May the day come soon when they all return to us.
Rabbi Brian Leiken
