Thirty meters of horror: a tunnel to “only partially” understand what the more than 130 hostages still in the hands of Hamas as of October 7 have been feeling in Gaza for 100 days. The copy of the place of captivity of the abductees was reproduced in Tel Aviv – in front of the Ministry of Defense – by the families of the hostages in the square that has now become a symbol of the battle. The tunnel is one of the many initiatives that the Forum launched across Israel this evening to mark the sad 100-day anniversary.
But other demonstrations were also organized in London, New York and Paris. And it is no coincidence that the march through the streets of the city – from tonight through the end of the Jewish Sabbath until tomorrow morning – will open with a video message from French President Emmanuel Macron, who, according to the organizers, will ask: for the immediate Release of those abducted by Hamas. To demonstrate the US's closeness, the American ambassador to Israel, Jack Lew, will take part in the march. Another significant demonstration took place in the forest of Kibbutz Reim, where over 360 young people were killed and others kidnapped by Hamas at the Nova music festival on October 7. At 6:29 a.m. – the time of the attack – there will be a historical reenactment of these terrible moments on site: the photos of the killed boys and the hostages serve as a background. “Just entering the tunnel is frightening. We can’t even imagine what it would feel like to be in a real tunnel for 100 days,” said Omer Lifschitz, whose father Oded is being held hostage in Gaza, during a visit to the tunnel.
Together with the others, he also wrote a message on the walls demanding the release of the kidnapped people.
Many have emphasized that one can only “partially” imagine what a real tunnel is because, it has been explained, in real tunnels – some even 40 meters underground – there is only darkness, cold and claustrophobia. In the same square, renamed “the hostages,” there is also a long, fully set table with chairs bearing the names of Hamas prisoners. Including those of the Bibas brothers, one of whom is just one year old and whose parents are still hostages in Gaza with them. “They must all be released immediately and brought home,” Lifschitz added. Ela Ben Ami, whose father Ohad was kidnapped from Kibbutz Beeri, said she was “shocked” after visiting the tunnel. “For 100 days, my father and the others could not leave these places,” he added, urging government officials to visit the tunnel. “We need public pressure, there is no other way,” said Dorit Gvili from the forum. “We always have to keep an eye on them and say that they are still alive and need to be brought home.”