‘The time to bring them home is now!’ | Second Gentleman and families of hostages in attendance at ‘National Vigil’
Originally published by WUSA9
September 4, 2024
By Katie Lusso
WASHINGTON — Crowds of people poured in to Adas Israel Congregation in Northwest D.C. for a vigil in honor of the Israeli hostages who were killed over the weekend Tuesday night.
“Alexander, Almog, Carmel, Eden, Hersh, and Ori. All executed by Hamas this weekend. After enduring 11 months of unimaginable conditions. Their deaths Just 24 hours before a planned rescue somehow makes this profound tragedy more heartbreaking,” said Sheila Katz from the National Council of Jewish Women.
Together, the attendees prayed, sang and mourned together the loss of those who died on Oct. 7 and since.
“What does healing even look like now will it ever be possible,” questioned one woman.
On Sunday, the bodies of six hostages who were captured after Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7 were found.
- Hersh Goldberg-Polin
- Eden Yerushalmi
- Carmel Gat
- Alexander Lobanov
- Almog Sarusi
- Ori Danino
They were killed shortly before Israeli forces were planning to rescue them. Their bodies were found in a tunnel beneath the southern Gaza city of Rafah.
“So many people in the Jewish community, in the United States have friends and family in Israel and this has touched so many people,” said Ron Halber, the Chief Executive Officer of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Washington.
Among those who attended, were family members of Hersh Goldberg-Polin.
“His uncle and aunt live in this community so he’s definitely part of this community,” said Gil Preuss, the CEO of the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington.
Other family members of hostages were also there.
LeElle Slifer’s second cousin Carmel Gat, is one of the six hostages who were killed over the weekend.
“This past weekend I learned that Carmel had been executed. She’d survived hell for nearly a year, only to be murdered 24 hours before the IDF arrived,” said Slifer.
Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff also addressed the crowd.
“I must be direct. This is hard. This is raw. I’m gutted and I know you all are too,” he told the crowd, many who were already crying.
“The time to bring them home is now. This is why the president and vice president and administration are working around the clock to get the deal done,” said Emhoff.