Israel Marks 500 Days Since Oct. 7 Attack With Fasts, Rallies Amid News of Early Release of Four Hostage Bodies

Debbie Weiss

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Israelis on Monday held rallies, blocked roads, and observed a fast to mark 500 days since the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas invaded southern Israel, massacred 1,200 people, and abducted 251 hostages into Gaza on Oct. 7, 2023.

The grim milestone coincided with reports that the bodies of four deceased hostages would be returned on Thursday, two days earlier than the next expected round of captive releases, slated for Saturday.

Hostage families and supporters gathered in major cities. In Tel Aviv, demonstrators blocked Namir Road, holding banners demanding the immediate return of those still held captive. Others gathered outside the Hostages and Missing Families Forum tent in central Jerusalem before marching to Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, where relatives of the hostages pleaded for urgent action. A 500-minute fast, symbolizing the 500 days in captivity, began at 11:40 am and concluded at 8 pm with a rally in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, attended by thousands.

In a screened video message at the rally, Iair Horn made his first public statement since being released on Saturday after 498 days in Hamas captivity. “We’re out of time. We must return them now,” he said.

Horn broke down in tears as he mentioned his brother Eitan, who remains in captivity and is not pegged for release until the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire and hostage-release deal. “Bring back my brother and all of the hostages.”

On Thursday, Israel is set to receive the remains of four hostages, with their identities expected to be revealed that morning. Israel’s KAN public broadcaster cited Israeli officials as saying that preparations were underway for their bodies to be identified and processed at the Abu Kabir forensic institute in Tel Aviv. The four hostages were believed to have been killed in captivity, though the exact circumstances of their deaths remain unclear.

On Saturday, Hamas will release three living hostages, followed by the return of four more bodies next Thursday, Feb. 27. In exchange for the bodies, Israel will release all women and minors under 19 who were arrested in Gaza since the Oct 7 onslaught.

Between Feb. 22 and March 2, Hamas is also scheduled to free the final three living hostages from the first, six-week phase of the ceasefire deal, including Hisham al-Sayed and Avera Mengistu, who have been held in Gaza for over a decade.

Hamas is believed to be holding the bodies of at least 36 people, out of a total of 70, including soldiers and civilians killed on Oct. 7 and others who died in captivity.

Freed hostage Ohad Ben Ami, who was released earlier this month appearing severely malnourished, urged mass participation in the demonstrations. “What kept me going was knowing people were fighting for me,” he said.

Levi Ben-Baruch, whose nephew Edan Alexander remains in captivity, recited the words of Jewish fast-day prayers — “Please save us!” — as he joined others in fasting. “We fast for 500 minutes,” he said, “but they have already fasted for 500 days.”

At Kibbutz Be’eri, one of the communities devastated in the Oct. 7 attack, residents held a gathering in memory of those taken hostage from their community and killed in Gaza. Nira Sharabi, whose husband Yossi Sharabi was killed in captivity, said that while the focus remained on bringing home the living, Israel also had an obligation to return the bodies of those who had not survived. “Until they are buried here, we can’t say goodbye,” she said.

Nira’s brother-in-law, Eli Sharabi, who was also released this month, only discovered after his release that his wife and two daughters were murdered in their home on Oct. 7.

Maccabit Mayer, whose relatives Ziv and Gali Berman are among the hostages, said each day felt like an eternity. “Day 500 is just like every other day,” she said. “Except that it’s one day longer.”

“I too want to begin the journey of rehabilitation and healing like all those who have returned from there,” she added.

Shay Dickmann, whose cousin, Carmel Gat, was killed by Hamas terrorists while in captivity, recounted how his grandmother languished during the Holocaust after all her family members had perished, and “waited for the world’s nations to decide when she would be freed.”

“She survived and immigrated to Israel, helping build a country so she would never have to wait again. And today, for 500 days, our people are waiting. We cannot let them wait for the world’s nations to decide if they will survive or be murdered,” Dickmann said.

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