'I am their voice': Former hostage Omer Wenkert urges for release of remaining hostages

Yahoo

3 days ago

"It is our duty to do everything in our power to bring them back. All of them – now!" Omer said at Tel Aviv's Hostages Square.
Former hostage Omer Wenkert called for the immediate return of the 50 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza, speaking at the 'Singing for Their Return' event held at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv on Tuesday evening.
The event featured song and prayer and was attended by bereaved families, the wives of reservists, and IDF soldiers.
'There are still 50 brothers and sisters of all of us who remain in Hamas's hell,' Wenkert said.
'I stand here today – and I am their voice! I cry out their pain and their pleas to come home! It is our duty to do everything in our power to bring them back. All of them – now!'
In his speech, Wenkert recounted his abduction and captivity by Hamas.
'On October 7, 2023, I was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists from the Re'im Junction,' he said. 'I was returned from Hamas captivity about four months ago after 505 days – days spent underground in a narrow, short, low, and dark tunnel.'
He described how he had been at the Nova music festival with his murdered friend Kim Damti, before being taken captive.
'Around 8 a.m., after experiencing hell in a burning shelter where endless grenades were thrown at us, cruel terrorists stripped off my clothes, tied my hands, put me in a van, and within about an hour, I arrived underground where I remained until my last day in captivity.'
Wenkert recalled meeting another hostage, Liam, an 18-year-old from Kibbutz Re'im, who had been taken from his bed with a bleeding gunshot wound.
'After about three days, this was the first time Liam and I could speak,' Wenkert said. 'I remember he told me, 'Be strong, brother.' I looked at him and understood – I realized that for his sake, I had to be strong.'
'I immediately lifted myself from the ground, squeezed his hand, looked into his eyes, and said, 'Don't lose hope – we'll eventually return home.''
Liam was later released, but Wenkert remained alone for 197 more days before being joined by Tal Shoham – who was released with him – and two others, Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Evyatar David, who remain in captivity.
Wenkert said he clung to three things that kept him going.
'First – my promise to Liam. I knew I had to keep it. Second, the belief that my family and my freedom were waiting for me. That one day, the sky would spread above me again. Third – gratitude,' he said. 'I learned to be satisfied with little. I said thank you every hour of every day for still being alive.'
He emphasized that Gilboa-Dalal, David, and 48 others are still being held in Gaza.
'They are still living an ongoing nightmare every single moment – experiencing endless and intensifying hell, starving, humiliated, miserable, and crying out to return to freedom,' he said.
'I want to say thank you to everyone who is here today and visits this square every day,' Wenkert said. 'I want to thank the people of Israel for supporting me, my family, and all the hostages still in Gaza. I want to thank the soldiers who fought for my return and defend our country.'
He also paid tribute to the fallen.
'I want to commemorate and remember all those who have fallen in this campaign and in all of Israel's campaigns in general,' he said.
Wenkert concluded with a reminder that bringing the hostages back "is the most urgent priority,' he said. 'And I want you to always remember – as long as the sky is above you, freedom exists in your lives, and family or people who love you are by your side, you are more than okay. All of them – now!'