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Orna Raz

Day 471 Of The War: We Are Waiting For You

Ofir Sharabi speaks at the rally last night (my photo)
Ofir Sharabi speaks at the rally last night (my photo)

After being away from Israel for a month, I resumed my duties in the dining room of the Hostages’ headquarters last Thursday. It was a very tense morning; the volunteers were afraid to say anything about the imminent return, and we worked in silence. Then, the agreement was finally signed, albeit accompanied by the clamor of politicians opposing the ceasefire.

Last night, I went with a friend to Hostages Square. I hadn’t seen the place so packed in a long time. Yesterday was also the second birthday of Kfir Bibes, the baby kidnapped to Gaza along with his mother Shiri and Ariel, his older brother. When the moderator, a cousin of Shiri Bibes, asked the crowd to sing “Happy Birthday” to Kfir, I could hardly hear a sound. The people were too heartbroken to sing the happy song, as it seems almost certain that the mother and the two beautiful children are no longer among the living.

Overall, the rally was slightly more hopeful than previous ceremonies. Most of the speakers were family members of hostages, and they all expressed cautious hope of seeing their loved ones return home. Even those whose relatives were not scheduled for release in the first phase of the agreement were generous in their speeches. A young woman, Amit Soussana, who was released in the previous agreement with Hamas more than a year ago, said it was impossible for her to begin healing. True healing, she said, could only happen once all the hostages were home.

Tzvi Zussman, the father of reservist Ben Zusman, who was killed in Gaza, read the noble words of his late son. Ben had written that it was an honor to defend his country and his people and had asked his family not to despair. The father stated that now is the time to end the war, consolidate the achievements, and bring all the hostages home.

Last night was the first time that I heard Ofir Sharabi,  an impressive fifteen-year-old girl whose father, Yossi, was murdered in Gaza after 100 days in captivity. Her uncle Eli, whose family was massacred in Be’eri on October 7, is set to be released in the first phase of the agreement. As Ofir spoke about her love for her father and her longing to finally hug and hold her uncle, the entire square fell silent, as though paralyzed. None of us could ever grow accustomed to the atrocities of October 7 or the 471 days that have followed.

I pray to see the first three freed hostages later today

About the Author
I hold a PhD in English Literature from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, specializing in writing about issues related to women, literature, culture, and society. Having lived in the US for 15 years (between 1979-1994), I bring a diverse perspective to my work. As a widow, in March 2016, I initiated a support and growth-oriented Facebook group for widows named "Widows Move On." The group has now grown to over 2000 members, providing a valuable space for mutual support and understanding.
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