Organizers of the 24-hour rally calling for the release of hostages held in Gaza say the event will open with a video message from French President Emmanuel Macron.
The event, organized by the headquarters of the Forum of Families of Hostages and Missing Persons, will take place in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, with gatherings across the country and around the world on Sunday to commemorate the 100th day of the hostages' captivity during Hamas attack on October 7th, in which more than 1,200 people were murdered. According to the Israeli military, 136 hostages kidnapped by Hamas on October 7 are still in Gaza – not all alive – after 105 civilians were freed from captivity during a week-long ceasefire in late November.
Earlier, four hostages were released and one was rescued by troops. In addition, the bodies of eight hostages were recovered and three hostages were mistakenly killed by the army. The Israeli military confirmed the deaths of 25 people still being held by Hamas, citing new intelligence and intelligence from forces operating in Gaza. Another person has disappeared since October 7th and their fate remains unknown. Hamas has also been holding the bodies of fallen IDF soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin since 2014, as well as two Israeli civilians, Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who are believed to be still alive after joining their gang. Personal initiative in 2014 and 2015 respectively.