Families of Israeli hostages build huge mock Hamas tunnel as war in Gaza Strip reaches 100-day mark
THE shattered families of hostages stolen by Hamas unveiled a mock terror tunnel in the heart of Israel’s capital to remind the world of the horrors they are still experiencing underneath Gaza.
Today marks 100 days since the captives were stolen and 100 days of brutal war that has no end in sight as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed “no one will stop us” from destroying the terror group.
Following the October 7 massacres in southern Israel, Hamas dragged some 250 hostages back into Gaza – 132 of whom Israel says remain in Gaza, including at least 25 believed to be dead.
The replica Hamas terror tunnel was opened yesterday in Tel Aviv’s central plaza, which campaigners now call “Hostage Square”.
The haunting structure serves as a grim reminder of the “horrifying” ongoing ordeals of hostages held by the Iran-backed terror group.
Israeli artist Roni Levavi said he wanted to design the “the most faithful reconstruction” of the Gaza tunnels to “give an idea of what the hostages have been feeling for so many days”
The interior of the tunnel is dimly lit, there is dirt on the ground and the sounds of gunfire and shelling are constantly played.
“That’s the only tunnel in this story that has a light in the end of it,” said Inbar Goldstein, who had several relatives released during a week-long truce in November, and several others killed in the initial attack.
The relatives said the experience of being stuck, even in the mocked-up tunnel, was harrowing.
“I was there for five minutes and I just wanted to run away,” said Ben Ami. “I had a choice to run away but they don’t.”
Thousands of Israelis rallied in the capital last night and today as they demanded the release of the remaining captives.
The crowds carried a massive banner that read: “And the world remains silent,” and chanted that the hostages must be released “Now, now, now”.
“We will continue to come here week after week until everybody is released,” Edan Begerano, 47, said.
On Friday, Israeli officials said they had reached a deal to get medicines to the remaining captives – but some of the families slammed this as scant progress.
“It’s not enough,” said Ella Ben Ami, whose father Ohad Ben Ami, 55, is among those still held.
“I want him home, in hospital, in good healthcare, not in Hamas healthcare.”
Now 100 days old, the latest Israel-Hamas war is by far the longest, bloodiest, and most destructive conflict between the bitter enemies.
Following October 7, Israel declared war on Hamas and launched a relentless bombardment and invasion that has killed at least 23,843 people, according to the latest toll from the Hamas-run health ministry.
The death toll claims cannot be independently verified and are disputed by Israel.
The United Nations said on Saturday that the war was “staining humanity” on the eve of its 100th day.
The Israeli siege has sparked acute shortages of food, water, medicine and fuel in Gaza, where the health system is collapsing.
The UN estimates 1.9 million – nearly 85 per cent of the population — have been displaced by the fighting.
The head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, said “the massive death, destruction, displacement, hunger, loss and grief of the last 100 days are staining our shared humanity”.
An entire generation of children in Gaza were being “traumatised”, diseases were spreading and the clock is “ticking fast towards famine,” he warned on a visit to the Strip.
This week, South Africa launched a case in the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of committed genocide against Palestinians.
The case at the Hague seeks a halt to the military campaign, which Israel stressed to the court was in self-defence and not aimed at Palestinian residents.
But Netanyahu insisted no court or military foe could stop Israel from achieving its aim of destroying Hamas.
“No one will stop us — not The Hague, not the Axis of Evil and no one else,” he said, referring to the Iran-aligned “axis of resistance” groups in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Yemen.
“It is possible and necessary to continue until victory and we will do it,” he added, claiming most Hamas battalions in Gaza had been “eliminated”.
