Latest news with #AgamBerger
New York Post
24-04-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Oct. 7, Holocaust survivors march in Auschwitz 80 years after death camp's liberation
Survivors of the Oct. 7 massacre in Israel marched shoulder to shoulder with Holocaust survivors Thursday at the former Auschwitz Nazi death camp in Poland, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the camp's liberation. Some 8,000 people — including free Hamas hostages Agam Berger, Ori Megidish and Eli Sharabi — marched roughly two miles to the infamous German extermination camp in Birkenau to pay tribute to the six million Jews killed during the Holocaust. 'We've really become a community, all of the survivors,' said Natalie Sanandaji, of Long Island, who survived the Nova music festival attack in 2023. Advertisement 7 Thousands gathered at the International March of the Living to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation at Auschwitz. REUTERS 7 Freed Hamas hostage Eli Sharabi attended the ceremony draped in an Israeli flagged with President Isaac Herzog, left. AFP via Getty Images 'I've been able to meet so many other survivors and it's been a huge part of my healing process being able to spend time with other people who understand what I went through,' she added. The International March of the Living was also attended by Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Polish President Andrzej Duda. Advertisement 'In days when antisemitism is raising its ugly head, when there is hatred towards Israel and when cries rise for the destruction of Israel, we must stand strong and remind and promise the world: never again,' Herzog proclaimed. 7 Soldiers march while holding the Torah at the former death camp where an estimated 1.1 million Jews were killed. REUTERS 7 Former Hamas hostages Ori Magdish, left, and Agam Berger, also joined the march on Thursday. Getty Images Advertisement New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy was also in attendance with his wife, Tammy, who had relatives who stayed behind in Poland during the pogroms and the rise of the Nazi regime. Murphy said it was important to be at the march to show his support for Edan Alexander, of Tenafly, who is the last-living American hostage that remains in Hamas captivity. 'We pray for him and his family,' Murphy said. 'Please, God, [we hope] he's released soon,' Murphy said. 7 Berger performed at the ceremony using a violin recovered from the death camp. Getty Images Advertisement 7 Holocaust survivors and thousands of others walked through the infamous 'Arbeit macht frei' (Work sets you free) gate. REUTERS Danny Danon, Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, said it was his first time in Auschwitz since the war in Gaza began, which he said has sparked a rise in antisemitism across the globe. 'We always say, 'Never again,' and we cannot compare the Holocaust to anything else, but what we have seen in Israel on October 7, we realize we still have to face evil,' Danon said. 'I still have hope. I think the majority of the world don't know the facts, they are ignorant and we have to educate them,' he added about the spike in antisemitism. 7 Memory boards were placed outside the death camp to honor the victims. REUTERS Duda, who stood alongside Herzog, said that along with paying tribute to those who lost their lives during the Holocaust, those marching are also calling for an end to antisemitism and freedom of the 59 hostages still under Hamas captivity. 'We both expressed our hope that the war taking place in the Gaza Strip, which was started by Hamas' attack on Israel, will be able to end, that the hostages who are still in Hamas hands will be able to return home,' Duda said. Advertisement Of the estimated six million Jews systematically killed during the Holocaust — as well as millions of others from minority groups across German-occupied Europe — about 1.1 million people died inside the Auschwitz death camp. With Post wires
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israel's army says it will fire air force reservists who condemned war in Gaza
Israel's military has said it will fire air force reservists who signed a letter condemning the war in Gaza and accusing it of only serving political interests and not bringing the hostages home. In a statement to The Associated Press, an army official said there was no room for any body or individual, including reservists in active duty, 'to exploit their military status while simultaneously participating in the fighting', calling it a breach of trust between commanders and subordinates. The army said it decided that any active reservist who signed the letter will not be able to continue serving. It did not specify how many people that included or if the firings had begun. Nearly 1,000 Israeli Air Force reservists and retirees signed a letter, published in Israeli media on Thursday, demanding the immediate return of the hostages, even at the cost of ending the fighting. The letter comes as Israel ramps up its offensive in Gaza, trying to pressure Hamas to agree to free hostages, 59 of whom are still being held, more than half of which are dead. Israel's imposed a blockade on food, fuel and humanitarian aid that has left civilians facing acute shortages as supplies dwindle. It has pledged to seize large parts of the Palestinian territory and establish a new security corridor through it. While the soldiers who signed the letter did not refuse to keep serving, it is part of a growing number of Israeli soldiers speaking out against the 18-month conflict, some saying they saw or did things that crossed ethical lines. 'It's completely illogical and irresponsible on behalf of the Israeli policy makers… risking the lives of the hostages, risking the lives of more soldiers and risking lives of many many more innocent Palestinians, while it had a very clear alternative,' Guy Poran, a retired Israeli Air Force pilot who spearheaded the letter told The AP. He said he is not aware of anyone who signed the letter being fired, and since it was published, it has gained dozens more signatures. Soldiers are required to steer clear of politics, and they rarely speak out against the army. After Hamas stormed into Israel on October 7 2023, Israel quickly united behind the war launched against the militant group. Divisions here have grown as the war progresses, but most criticism has focused on the mounting number of soldiers killed and the failure to bring home hostages, not actions in Gaza. – Advocates for hostage return keep up the pressure Freed hostages and their families are doing what they can to keep attention on their plight, and urge the government to get everyone out. For Holocaust Remembrance Day this year, Agam Berger, a military spotter who was taken hostage and freed in January, will perform at a March of the Living Ceremony in Poland — a yearly memorial march at the site of Auschwitz that honours the six million Jews killed by Nazi Germany and celebrates the state of Israel. Ms Berger will play a 130-year-old violin that survived the Holocaust and was brought to Israel, at the main ceremony in the Birkenau concentration camp. She will be accompanied by singer, Daniel Weiss, a resident of Kibbutz Be'eri whose parents were murdered on October 7. Still, the war in Gaza shows no signs of slowing. Since Israel ended an eight-week ceasefire last month, it said it will push further into Gaza until Hamas releases the hostages. More than 1,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire collapsed, according to the United Nations. The Israeli military on Friday issued an urgent warning to residents in several neighborhoods in northern Gaza, calling on them to evacuate immediately. Strikes earlier this week killed at least 23 people, health officials said, including eight women and eight children. – Brazil pushes for the release of body of teen who died in Israeli custody Also this week, Brazil's Embassy in the West Bank said it had requested the immediate release of the body of a 17-year-old Palestinian prisoner who died in Israeli custody. A representative from Brazil's office in Ramallah, told the AP it was helping the family speed up the process to bring Walid Ahmad's body home. Mr Ahmad had a Brazilian passport. According to an Israeli doctor who observed the autopsy, starvation was likely the primary cause of his death. Mr Ahmad had been held for six months without being charged. He was extremely malnourished and also showed signs of inflammation of the colon and scabies, said a report written by Dr Daniel Solomon, who watched the autopsy, conducted by Israeli experts, at the request of the boy's family. Israel's prison service said it operates according to the law and all prisoners are given basic rights.
The Hill
11-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Israel's army says it will fire air force reservists who condemned the war
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel's military said Friday it will fire air force reservists who signed a letter condemning the war in Gaza and accusing it of only serving political interests and not bringing the hostages home. In a statement to The Associated Press, an army official said there was no room for any body or individual, including reservists in active duty, 'to exploit their military status while simultaneously participating in the fighting,' calling it a breach of trust between commanders and subordinates. The army said it decided that any active reservist who signed the letter will not be able to continue serving. It did not specify how many people that included or if the firings had begun. Nearly 1,000 Israeli Air Force reservists and retirees signed a letter, published in Israeli media Thursday, demanding the immediate return of the hostages, even at the cost of ending the fighting. The letter comes as Israel ramps up its offensive in Gaza, trying to pressure Hamas to agree to free hostages, 59 of whom are still being held, more than half of which are dead. Israel's imposed a blockade on food, fuel and humanitarian aid that has left civilians facing acute shortages as supplies dwindle. It has pledged to seize large parts of the Palestinian territory and establish a new security corridor through it. While the soldiers who signed the letter didn't refuse to keep serving, it's part of a growing number of Israeli soldiers speaking out against the 18-month conflict, some saying they saw or did things that crossed ethical lines. 'It's completely illogical and irresponsible on behalf of the Israeli policy makers … risking the lives of the hostages, risking the lives of more soldiers and risking lives of many many more innocent Palestinians, while it had a very clear alternative,' Guy Poran, a retired Israeli Air Force pilot who spearhead the letter told The AP. He said he's not aware of anyone who signed the letter being fired, and since it was published, it has gained dozens more signatures. Soldiers are required to steer clear of politics, and they rarely speak out against the army. After Hamas stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel quickly united behind the war launched against the militant group. Divisions here have grown as the war progresses, but most criticism has focused on the mounting number of soldiers killed and the failure to bring home hostages, not actions in Gaza. Advocates for hostage return keep up the pressure Freed hostages and their families are doing what they can to keep attention on their plight, and urge the government to get everyone out. For Holocaust Remembrance Day this year, Agam Berger, a military spotter who was taken hostage and freed in January, will perform at a March of the Living Ceremony in Poland — a yearly memorial march at the site of Auschwitz that honors the 6 million Jews killed by Nazi Germany and celebrates the state of Israel. Berger will play a 130-year-old violin that survived the Holocaust and was brought to Israel, at the main ceremony in the Birkenau concentration camp. She'll be accompanied by singer, Daniel Weiss, a resident of Kibbutz Be'eri whose parents were murdered on Oct. 7. Still, the war in Gaza shows no signs of slowing. Since Israel ended an eight-week ceasefire last month, it said it will push further into Gaza until Hamas releases the hostages. More than 1,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire collapsed, according to the United Nations. The Israeli military on Friday issued an urgent warning to residents in several neighborhoods in northern Gaza, calling on them to evacuate immediately. Strikes earlier this week killed at least 23 people, health officials said, including eight women and eight children. Brazil pushes for the release of body of teen who died in Israeli custody Also this week, Brazil's Embassy in the West Bank said it had requested the immediate release of the body of a 17-year-old Palestinian prisoner who died in Israeli custody. A representative from Brazil's office in Ramallah, told the AP it was helping the family speed up the process to bring Walid Ahmad's body home. Ahmad had a Brazilian passport. According to an Israeli doctor who observed the autopsy, starvation was likely the primary cause of his death. Ahmad had been held for six months without being charged. He was extremely malnourished and also showed signs of inflammation of the colon and scabies, said a report written by Dr. Daniel Solomon, who watched the autopsy, conducted by Israeli experts, at the request of the boy's family. Israel's prison service said it operates according to the law and all prisoners are given basic rights.
The Independent
11-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Israel's army says it will fire air force reservists who condemned the war
Israel's military said Friday it will fire air force reservists who signed a letter condemning the war in Gaza and accusing it of only serving political interests and not bringing the hostages home. In a statement to The Associated Press, an army official said there was no room for any body or individual, including reservists in active duty, 'to exploit their military status while simultaneously participating in the fighting,' calling it a breach of trust between commanders and subordinates. The army said it decided that any active reservist who signed the letter will not be able to continue serving. It did not specify how many people that included or if the firings had begun. Nearly 1,000 Israeli Air Force reservists and retirees signed a letter, published in Israeli media Thursday, demanding the immediate return of the hostages, even at the cost of ending the fighting. The letter comes as Israel ramps up its offensive in Gaza, trying to pressure Hamas to agree to free hostages, 59 of whom are still being held, more than half of which are dead. Israel's imposed a blockade on food, fuel and humanitarian aid that has left civilians facing acute shortages as supplies dwindle. It has pledged to seize large parts of the Palestinian territory and establish a new security corridor through it. While the soldiers who signed the letter didn't refuse to keep serving, it's part of a growing number of Israeli soldiers speaking out against the 18-month conflict, some saying they saw or did things that crossed ethical lines. 'It's completely illogical and irresponsible on behalf of the Israeli policy makers … risking the lives of the hostages, risking the lives of more soldiers and risking lives of many many more innocent Palestinians, while it had a very clear alternative,' Guy Poran, a retired Israeli Air Force pilot who spearhead the letter told The AP. He said he's not aware of anyone who signed the letter being fired, and since it was published, it has gained dozens more signatures. Soldiers are required to steer clear of politics, and they rarely speak out against the army. After Hamas stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel quickly united behind the war launched against the militant group. Divisions here have grown as the war progresses, but most criticism has focused on the mounting number of soldiers killed and the failure to bring home hostages, not actions in Gaza. Advocates for hostage return keep up the pressure Freed hostages and their families are doing what they can to keep attention on their plight, and urge the government to get everyone out. For Holocaust Remembrance Day this year, Agam Berger, a military spotter who was taken hostage and freed in January, will perform at a March of the Living Ceremony in Poland — a yearly memorial march at the site of Auschwitz that honors the 6 million Jews killed by Nazi Germany and celebrates the state of Israel. Berger will play a 130-year-old violin that survived the Holocaust and was brought to Israel, at the main ceremony in the Birkenau concentration camp. She'll be accompanied by singer, Daniel Weiss, a resident of Kibbutz Be'eri whose parents were murdered on Oct. 7. Still, the war in Gaza shows no signs of slowing. Since Israel ended an eight-week ceasefire last month, it said it will push further into Gaza until Hamas releases the hostages. More than 1,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire collapsed, according to the United Nations. The Israeli military on Friday issued an urgent warning to residents in several neighborhoods in northern Gaza, calling on them to evacuate immediately. Strikes earlier this week killed at least 23 people, health officials said, including eight women and eight children. Brazil pushes for the release of body of teen who died in Israeli custody Also this week, Brazil's Embassy in the West Bank said it had requested the immediate release of the body of a 17-year-old Palestinian prisoner who died in Israeli custody. A representative from Brazil's office in Ramallah, told the AP it was helping the family speed up the process to bring Walid Ahmad's body home. Ahmad had a Brazilian passport. According to an Israeli doctor who observed the autopsy, starvation was likely the primary cause of his death. Ahmad had been held for six months without being charged. He was extremely malnourished and also showed signs of inflammation of the colon and scabies, said a report written by Dr. Daniel Solomon, who watched the autopsy, conducted by Israeli experts, at the request of the boy's family. Israel's prison service said it operates according to the law and all prisoners are given basic rights.
Boston Globe
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
Israel's army says it will fire air force reservists who condemned the war
Nearly 1,000 Israeli Air Force reservists and retirees signed a letter, published in Israeli media Thursday, demanding the immediate return of the hostages, even at the cost of ending the fighting. The letter comes as Israel ramps up its offensive in Gaza, trying to pressure Hamas to agree to free hostages, 59 of whom are still being held, more than half of which are dead. Israel's imposed a blockade on food, fuel and humanitarian aid that has left civilians facing acute shortages as supplies dwindle. It has pledged to seize large parts of the Palestinian territory and establish a new security corridor through it. Advertisement While the soldiers who signed the letter didn't refuse to keep serving, it's part of a growing number of Israeli soldiers speaking out against the 18-month conflict, some saying they saw or did things that crossed ethical lines. Advertisement 'It's completely illogical and irresponsible on behalf of the Israeli policy makers … risking the lives of the hostages, risking the lives of more soldiers and risking lives of many many more innocent Palestinians, while it had a very clear alternative,' Guy Poran, a retired Israeli Air Force pilot who spearhead the letter told The AP. He said he's not aware of anyone who signed the letter being fired, and since it was published, it has gained dozens more signatures. Soldiers are required to steer clear of politics, and they rarely speak out against the army. After Hamas stormed into Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel quickly united behind the war launched against the militant group. Divisions here have grown as the war progresses, but most criticism has focused on the mounting number of soldiers killed and the failure to bring home hostages, not actions in Gaza. Advocates for hostage return keep up the pressure Freed hostages and their families are doing what they can to keep attention on their plight, and urge the government to get everyone out. For Holocaust Remembrance Day this year, Agam Berger, a military spotter who was taken hostage and freed in January, will perform at a March of the Living Ceremony in Poland — a yearly memorial march at the site of Auschwitz that honors the 6 million Jews killed by Nazi Germany and celebrates the state of Israel. Berger will play a 130-year-old violin that survived the Holocaust and was brought to Israel, at the main ceremony in the Birkenau concentration camp. She'll be accompanied by singer, Daniel Weiss, a resident of Kibbutz Be'eri whose parents were murdered on Oct. 7. Still, the war in Gaza shows no signs of slowing. Advertisement Since Israel ended an eight-week ceasefire last month, it said it will push further into Gaza until Hamas releases the hostages. More than 1,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire collapsed, according to the United Nations. The Israeli military on Friday issued an urgent warning to residents in several neighborhoods in northern Gaza, calling on them to evacuate immediately. Strikes earlier this week killed at least 23 people, health officials said, including eight women and eight children. Brazil pushes for the release of body of teen who died in Israeli custody Also this week, Brazil's Embassy in the West Bank said it had requested the immediate release of the body of a 17-year-old Palestinian prisoner who died in Israeli custody. A representative from Brazil's office in Ramallah, told the AP it was helping the family speed up the process to bring Walid Ahmad's body home. Ahmad had a Brazilian passport. According to an Israeli doctor who observed the autopsy, starvation was likely the primary cause of his death. Ahmad had been held for six months without being charged. He was extremely malnourished and also showed signs of inflammation of the colon and scabies, said a report written by Dr. Daniel Solomon, who watched the autopsy, conducted by Israeli experts, at the request of the boy's family. Israel's prison service said it operates according to the law and all prisoners are given basic rights.
