Day 684 of the War: ‘You Are Not Alone, We Are With You’
Ever since the hostages’ family members began speaking at rallies and demonstrations, the crowd has always chanted back: “You are not alone, we are with you.” It has never felt more meaningful than on Sunday, August 17, 2025, when over a million Israelis stopped everything they were doing and took to the streets to stand together with the families of the hostages.
Today I heard on the radio the mother of Tamir Nimordi, a soldier abducted by Hamas on October 7. She said how meaningful this chant was and how it fills her heart. After 680 days of Saturday night rallies and demonstrations, the entire country finally came to a standstill on Sunday—just to show solidarity with the families.
The dining room at the Hostages’ Headquarters was open from the morning to serve the families and the volunteers who were in the field—at Hostages’ Square and out in the streets. I passed through the square on my way to the dining room. It was around 10 a.m., and the square was already full of people of all ages: families, elderly people, and mothers with strollers. At one point, I saw a march of the “white robes”—doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers who had taken the day off to join. Family members stood at the entrance to the main library, and Einav Zangauker thanked the people for being there.
It was busy all day, and we in the dining room were constantly serving those who came in for a short break, some food, and the relief of air conditioning. Fortunately, last Sunday was not as hot as the previous week, but standing in the sun in the square was still difficult. Toward the end of my shift, I went back to the square, which was even more crowded than in the morning. Later, I watched the huge rally online from home.
The following day, members of the coalition, ministers, and the prime minister tried to downplay the significance of this momentous demonstration. Netanyahu even claimed that such protests weaken our efforts to release the hostages. But we stopped believing his words a long time ago. We just want the hostages back, and this nightmare must end now
