BOSTON — Hundreds of supporters formed a “human chain” in Boston Common Monday, demonstrating support for the more than 200 men, women and children held hostage by Hamas in Gaza.
Organized by the Israeli American Council, Combined Jewish Philanthropies, and Jewish Community Relations Council, the rally raised awareness to Bring Them Home Now, an online forum dedicated to the missing hostages.
“We formed the Hostage and Missing Families Forum less than 24 hours after the horrific attack by Hamas on Israel on Oct. 7, in which thousands of innocent civilians were murdered and taken hostage by Hamas,” the website said.
One IAC organizer said he expected close to the 2,000 people to line the sidewalk along Tremont and Park streets towards the State House. Supporters sang songs, waved Israeli flags and held candles for the kidnapped men, women and children.
“All of these people care about humanity,” Chestnut Hill resident Relly Banker said. “We came here in the name of humanity, to ask everyone [to] help us. Release these people. Let them go home to their mothers and fathers and to their children.”
“For such a small global population that is the Jewish people, it’s really cool to see so much support in a city like Boston,” Natick resident Matt Gentile said.
IAC volunteer Michael Kimeldorfer Rabinowitz said it’s important to not forget the names and faces of the people held against their will.
“We’re not going to rest until everybody joins us in our attempt to get them back home,” Kimeldorfer Rabinowitz said. “These are faces of regular people who woke up Saturday morning and just wanted to do a regular rest day and found themselves hostages of a terrorist organization.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
©2023 Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/7QOJU3BNCJERBNKJC5LWTBYFLU.png)
