Hundreds of demonstrators to rally in Time Square, demand Hamas release Israeli hostages
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New York Sen. Chuck Schumer vowed that Hamas would be wiped out and that those held captive in Gaza would be rescued during a rally demanding the hostages’ release in Times Square Thursday night.
Israeli authorities have said that at least 203 hostages were being held in Gaza, the New York Times reported on Thursday. Islamic Jihad has claimed it is holding another 30 hostages.
Hundreds of demonstrators waved Israeli flags and held signs that read “I stand with Israel” and “Bring them home” at the rally organized by the Israeli-American Council in conjunction with other New York Jewish organizations.
All around them, the faces of those kidnapped were broadcast across 15 buildings in the “Crossroads of the World.”
Schumer, the highest-ranking Jewish official in US history, took to the podium and pledged that America would do everything it can to rescue those held by the terrorists.
“In every generation, they have risen to afflict us and the evil vicious vile Hamas has done it now. But we know in every generation we fight back until we win,” the Democrat said.
“We will not abandon you, we will fight with you side by side until the threat of Hamas is totally eliminated and every hostage is brought home,” he said to cheers from the crowd.
The captives, which include women, children and even a Holocaust survivor, were seized when Hamas launched its unprecedented and devastating attack on Oct. 7.
More than 1,400 Israelis were killed in the attack and 4,200 others were wounded.
At least 13 Americans are still unaccounted for, according to the US State Department, however, it’s not clear how many are being held hostage.
President Biden has spoken with their families.
Follow along with The Post’s live blog for the latest on Hamas’ attack on Israel
Schumer told the crowd that he met with several families whose loved ones had been taken away by the terrorists during his recent trip to Israel.
“And we vowed in that room outside of Tel-Aviv that we would do everything we can … and get our country, the United States of America, to bring them home.”
He said he has sat down with Biden and discussed plans to rescue the hostages.
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“To free the hostages, we will persist and persist and persist. We will never give up, we will get them free we will do everything we can for them,” Schumer said.
Thursday’s rally is organized by the Israeli-American Council in conjunction with other New York Jewish organizations as well as former members of the Israel Defense Forces Spokesperson’s Unit.
Major landmarks across the city, including Columbus Circle, Radio City Music Hall, the New York Public Library, Brooklyn Bridge, Union Square and the Guggenheim Museum, will also feature the images.
Israeli-American Council CEO Elan Carr also gave an impassioned speech at the rally, where he condemned Hamas as “agents of hell” and “genocidal sadists who turned the sacred into the profane.”
He called Hamas’ attack a “marauding rampage of genocide against the Jewish people in the Jewish homeland.”
“We will never forget the faces on this screen — and we will never forgive the monsters who are putting you through this,” Carr said.
He previously served as US Special Envoy to Combat Antisemitism under former President Donald Trump.
Gilad Erdan, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, declared that “Gaza will not have a moment of quiet until we bring them home and we will bring them. Israel will prevail.”
The parents of Omer Neutra, a Long Island native and IDF commander who is among those taken hostage by Hamas, said they had not heard from their son since Oct. 6.
He turned 22 on Saturday.
“We are heartbroken. We are worried. But we are focused and resolute in doing everything in our power to bringing Omer back,” his mother, Orna said.
She pleaded with Hamas to let them see her son so she knows he is alive.
“We are urging the Hamas leaders … we ask you continue to treat Omer well and the rest of the hostages,” she said.
Mayor Eric Adams, who has been outspoken in his support for Israel since Hamas’ attack, was scheduled to give remarks at the rally but canceled. He addressed the crowd via a pre-recorded video instead
“I want to thank the Israeli-American Council for the work they are doing to advocate for the safe return of our brothers and sisters being held hostage by Hamas. Hamas’ despicable actions have created an atmosphere where innocent lives have been lost and others remain in danger,” he told The Post in a statement before the rally, and called for “the dismantling of Hamas.”
“In the name of all that is right, in the name of all that is just, every one of the hostages must be safely returned to their families and their homes. The road to peace begins with their release,” Adams said.
Hamas has said it will not release the hostages until Israel ends its attack on Gaza, where some 2.3 million Palestinians live.
The terrorists have also demanded the release of thousands of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli custody.
The Pentagon has deployed a small Special Operations team to Israel to help locate and rescue the hostages, according to the New York Times.
Gaza has been relentlessly bombarded by the IDF in retaliation to the Hamas attack.
Last week, Israel ordered the evacuation of more than 1 million Palestinians from the northern part of the sealed enclave ahead of an anticipated IDF ground invasion to seize Gaza City and take out Hamas’ leadership.
The United States has pledged to assist the IDF in dismantling the militant organization.
The intense fighting has caused division across the globe., especially after hundreds were killed when a missile destroyed a hospital in Gaza on Tuesday. The IDF and White House claim the missile was misfired by militants.
The violence has sparked pro-Palestine and pro-Israel clashes in the streets of New York, Washington and other major cities since the war began nearly two weeks ago.
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