Posted on by Priyanka Deshpande

Israel-Hamas War: Families march for freedom, seek release of all Israeli hostages

Families of Israeli hostages, who have been held captive in Gaza for 145 days, on Wednesday February 28, began a four-day march from the Gaza border to Jerusalem. The march serves as a collective plea for the release of all hostages, occurring concurrently with ongoing mediated efforts to broker a deal between Israel and Hamas, the Reuters reported. (Image: Reuters)
The march commenced from a field outside Kibbutz Re’im, situated near the Gaza Strip border. This location holds significance as the site where over 350 individuals were either killed or abducted during the Hamas-led attack on October 7. (Image: Reuters)
Haim Rubinstein, the spokesperson for the forum, expressed condolences for the two soldiers whose deaths in Gaza were reported on Wednesday morning and reflected on the significance of the march’s starting point.  “Young people who wanted to party and to love found themselves in a nightmare that no one could imagine,” the Times of Israel quoted Rubinstein as he highlighted the tragic events. (Image: AP)
Apart from relatives of Israeli hostages, supporters, and some soldiers are also participating in the march. The marchers proceeded along the 232 Route, the primary traffic road in the bordering area with Gaza. This route was the scene of a Hamas ambush, where gunmen targeted and attacked motorists and passengers escaping from the Nova music festival and nearby communities. (Image: Reuters)
A Nova music festival survivor Niv Cohen said he cannot begin his rehabilitation until his friends, who were taken hostage during the festival, are back alongside him. Cohen expressed the emotional toll, stating, “I’m still here, standing, but my soul was left behind, somewhere among these trees where I hid for so many hours.” (Image: Reuters)
The march is scheduled to traverse various Israeli towns and cities before concluding in Jerusalem on Saturday, March 2. Jerusalem, as the seat of the Israeli government and parliament, serves as the symbolic endpoint of the journey. (Image: AP)
According to the Times of Israel, the first day of the march saw participants walking from Re’im along the Gaza border, eventually reaching Sderot where a solidarity ceremony was held at the local police station. Following the ceremony, the group walked to Kiryat Gat for overnight stay. The march resumed on Thursday morning, progressing to Beit Guvrin before advancing further to Beit Shemesh, where an evening ceremony is scheduled. (Image: AP)
On Friday morning, the participants plan to conduct a “stretcher march” in support of the soldiers held captive in Gaza. A ceremony is scheduled at the Sha’ar Hagai National Heritage Site to pay homage to these troops. Following an overnight stay at Kibbutz Tzora, the final leg of the march will commence on Saturday morning. The participants will make their way into Jerusalem, aiming to reach Paris Square in the city for a rally on Saturday evening, (Image: Reuters)