This week marked 700 days since October 7, 2023, when Hamas dragged 250 hostages into Gaza. Hamas marked the grim milestone with another propaganda video — showing Guy Gilboa-Dalal and, for the first time, Alon Ohel. Gilboa-Dalal’s family released a short clip where he pleaded, “This is all we want, we just want it to end. We want to return to our families. Please bring us back.”
The pain of these families has stretched on for nearly two years. Demonstrations filled Jerusalem again, with thousands demanding a hostage deal before the IDF moves forward with its planned Gaza City operation. The Hostage Families Forum said bluntly: “This operation poses an immediate, direct threat to our loved ones, who have been languishing in Hamas tunnels for 700 days.”
But alongside the heartfelt rallies, a fringe group within the Bring Them Home protests escalated to dangerous tactics. Cars and tires were set ablaze near Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Jerusalem home, including a vehicle belonging to an IDF reservist who has served more than 260 days and is due to redeploy next week. His wife, Tamar Bar Shai, described how the flames spread toward nearby trees and buildings, forcing neighbors — some in their underwear — to evacuate.
She later told Israeli media: “Our car is gone. We support the hostages and the families, but this causes hate.” Other residents described smoke filling their homes. Politicians across the spectrum condemned the arson, with Justice Minister Yariv Levin calling it “terrorism” and Benny Gantz reminding the public that burning vehicles and violence do not advance the return of the hostages and only harm the determined and important public struggle.
Against this backdrop, world headlines continue to swirl.
On Newsmax, Jodie Cohen reports that Donald Trump has called on Hamas to return all hostages “immediately” while outlining Israel’s five conditions for ending the war. Jerusalem protests made clear that Israelis want answers now.
At the same time, Fox News reports that Rep. Rashida Tlaib is facing a House censure threat for fiery remarks many saw as celebrating terrorism. It’s another sign of how toxic rhetoric against Israel is being pushed back on in Congress.
Another Fox News investigation revealed what Israel has said all along: aid theft is rampant. Researchers found that in places like Gaza, only 12–17% of aid actually reaches civilians, with Hamas siphoning the rest. One expert even called UNRWA “an aid diversion operation.”
Meanwhile, The Jewish Chronicle reported on the wider hostage-release movement, noting that while most demonstrators were peaceful, the minority resorting to arson drew condemnation from across Israeli society.
The diplomatic battles rage on too. In another JC article, Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar clashed with France online over the Palestinian Authority’s “pay for slay” scheme, blasting Emmanuel Macron for ignoring terror salaries while lecturing Israel about visas. And a JC op-ed slammed the UK Labour government for ignoring facts and history by embracing flawed famine claims while pushing Palestinian statehood.
Meanwhile, Israel’s security agencies continue to disrupt Hamas plots. The Jewish Chronicle reported that Shin Bet foiled a Hamas drone assassination attempt on National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, directed from Hamas headquarters in Turkey. Another feature revealed how Mossad trained young Iranian dissidents who helped Israel cripple Iran’s missile arsenal earlier this year.
Two threads tie all these headlines together. First, the hostages remain the heart of Israel’s anguish. Seven hundred days in captivity is too long. Every protest chant and every news conference is shadowed by their absence. Second, the fight against lies continues — whether it’s Hamas propaganda, UN famine reports built on stolen data, or Western politicians excusing terror.
As Modern-Day Esthers, we are called to bear witness. To the hostages still underground. To the families protesting in the streets. To the deception in global headlines. We cannot be silent.
