On the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, a powerful call for remembrance and action echoed across the world. Families of Israelis held hostage by Hamas stood alongside world leaders and Holocaust survivors, urging the world to remember the past while fighting for the release of those still in captivity.
“We need to make sure that this isn’t forgotten, that the 90 remaining hostages are freed,” said Yasmin Magal, whose cousin Omer Neutra—a 22-year-old American-Israeli soldier and grandson of Holocaust survivors—was kidnapped and murdered in Gaza. “The live ones to recover, and the dead to a proper burial in our homeland.”
Lessons from the Past, A Cry for the Present
The horrors of October 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists massacred 1,200 civilians and abducted 251 hostages, have been likened to the atrocities of the Holocaust. Omer Lifshitz, whose 84-year-old father remains a hostage, reflected on the chilling parallels: “What happened on October 7 feels like another Holocaust or pogrom in the kibbutz Nir Oz.”
Lifshitz, visiting Auschwitz for the first time, issued a heartfelt plea: “People must learn that this can’t happen ever again. Learn from what happened and hope for a better world.”
Hamas has released a small number of hostages as part of a multi-phased ceasefire agreement, but 87 remain in captivity, including the bodies of at least 34 confirmed dead. These families, many descended from Holocaust survivors, are living reminders of the enduring fight against antisemitism and the unyielding demand for justice.
As Christian Women For Israel, we are called to remember the lessons of history, reject hatred in all forms, and advocate for the hostages' safe return.
As Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel once said: “For the dead and the living, we must bear witness.” Bearing witness means standing for truth and justice in the face of evil.
Let us continue to pray for the hostages, their families, and the enduring peace of Israel.
