Members of Kibbutz Nir Oz, which was at the epicenter of the Hamas attack, set up 239 empty beds in Jerusalem’s Safra Square, indicating the number of hostages Hamas is currently holding captive in the Gaza Strip.
Beds of various sizes have been set up in Jerusalem’s Safra Square, arranged with personal items to mark the absence of people kidnapped by Hamas since its attack on Israel.
“The families demanded that the Israeli government take immediate action to bring back all the hostages, missing soldiers and civilians,” the directorate of the Forum for Hostages and Missing Persons said in a press release.
“Holding them captive in Hamas is a crime against humanity,” the press release said.
The exhibition of empty beds in Jerusalem’s Safra Square remains open to the public until the afternoon of November 1. Following this, beds and equipment will be donated to families from the Gaza Strip, according to a press release from the headquarters of the Forum of Families of Hostages and Missing Persons.
Members of Kibbutz Nir Oz said that a quarter of Kibbutz Nir Oz is not with them because 80 members of the Kibbutz have been murdered or kidnapped. Survivors of the attack and families of the missing and hostages came to the exhibition and a moment of silence at the empty beds.
The exhibition was a collaboration between artist Eran Webber and strategist Vered Huri, according to a press release. The members of the kibbutz worked with hundreds of volunteers from all over the country who contributed and helped prepare the exhibition.
On Tuesday, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the number of hostages believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza was up to 240. He said 315 IDF soldiers had died since the October 7 attack by Hamas in Israel. It was reported by CNN.
On Monday, the IDF completed its first successful hostage rescue since October 7. The IDF rescued an Israeli soldier kidnapped by Hamas.
En route to X, the IDF said: “She is home. PVT Megidish was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7th. She was released tonight during ground operations. Ori is now home with her family.”
Image Source: ANI News
