When the war began in October 2023, no one imagined it would stretch on for 500 agonizing days. Yet here we are, still counting. Back then, people said the war might continue until December. Maybe January. To do the job properly, it would take time. We were told to have patience.
I thought to myself: a few months? How would I deal with this crazy situation for so long? But here we are. It’s hard to believe. No, it’s impossible to believe. Who would have thought that five hundred days after October 7, hostages would still be living under the harshest conditions in Gaza, and we would still have a war to fight? I don’t believe anyone could have anticipated this situation.
To mark 500 days since the Hamas attack, people have taken to the streets. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum encouraged a 500-minute fast and led a march from Prime Minister Netanyahu’s residence to the Knesset. They organized demonstrations throughout the country demanding that the hostages be brought home. The signs they carry, with the faces of the hostages, are accented with red, seemingly to convey urgency and alarm.
Members of the Tikvah Forum for Families of Hostages have a different approach to how to bring the hostages home. Since the beginning of the war, they have advocated for increased military pressure on Hamas, to return the hostages from a position of strength rather than through making concessions. They believe that negotiations with Hamas only strengthen the enemy. They intentionally do not use red color on their signs.
On day 500, the Tikvah Forum gave a press release outside the Prime Minister’s Office. The signs they carry remind us that time is of the essence. The photos of the hostages have remained the same since the beginning of the war, but seeing the returned hostages makes it clear that they may now look very different from those photos. Several relatives addressed the members of the cabinet. Among the Tikvah Forum signs was a sign with red highlights showing that despite our differing approaches, we can unite behind our joint goal. Behind the group stood a bus that they called “Autobus HaShavim,” the “Bus of the Returnees.” They hope that all remaining hostages will return together on that bus.
Tzvika Mor, father of Eitan Mor and co-founder of the Tikvah Forum, addressed the cabinet ministers as they were about to discuss the next phase of the deal. “For 500 days, we have told you that this isn’t the way to return all the hostages. Talking to Hamas is not productive. You decided to negotiate with them. Now return them all in one shot. The bus behind me is not meant to return the hostages in drips and drabs. It’s to be used to bring them all at once.”
Ditza Or, mother of Avinatan, said she is shocked that she must say that her son is still in Gaza 500 days later. Most of those days, he’s been underground and alone. She called upon the government to recognize the miracles we’ve witnessed on the battlefield and in the political campaign and to act decisively. She asked that they give up the hesitation, the fear, and the surrender, and go on with pride with their heads held high. She encouraged them to leverage Trump’s ultimatum. She added that if they decide to give up the Philadelphi Corridor, they should not do so until the last hostage is already home. They should not open the back door of Gaza before that happens, enabling our enemy to smuggle hostages to other places. They should also understand that hashgachah from Above is providing us with this option.
Boaz Miran, the brother of Omri, who was kidnapped in front of his wife and children from Nachal Oz, stated, “All along we’ve been saying that we need to bring home all the hostages at once after we defeat Hamas. President Trump feels the same way and gave the PM the option to give an ultimatum to Hamas to return all the hostages. We are in the middle of the first stage of the deal. I expect that after the conclusion of this part of the deal, during days 42-50, we must issue the ultimatum to Hamas. Either they return all of the hostages, or we will use all resources at our disposal to return every hostage at once on this bus.”
Riki Baruch is the sister-in-law of Uriel Baruch, whose body is being held in Gaza. Her family received a message that, tragically, Uriel is no longer alive. Since then, they’ve received no information. Trump’s ultimatum gave them hope. Uriel’s mother will finally hear what happened to her son so she can have some closure from the nightmare she is living through right now. Riki expects the PM and decision-makers to leverage Trump’s ultimatum. It’s a one-time opportunity given to us by the President of the United States that won’t return.
Ditza Or spoke once again in English and thanked Trump for supporting and leading the fight against evil all over the world. As the family members posed for a photo, smiles and even a bit of joking could be seen. This moment of lightness is remarkable, given their harrowing circumstances. The families and their supporters then stepped onto the “Bus of Returnees.” We hope that the loved ones of these families will quickly return safe and sound.
Please continue to daven for the wounded, the release of the hostages, and for the success and safe return of all of our soldiers and security personnel.
Suzie Steinberg, (nee Schapiro), CSW, is a native of Kew Gardens Hills and resident of Ramat Beit Shemesh who publishes articles regularly in various newspapers and magazines about life in general, and about life in Israel in particular. Her recently published children’s book titled Hashem is Always With Me can be purchased in local Judaica stores as well as online. Suzie can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and would love to hear from you.
