Thousands Gather In Columbus Circle To Mourn Slain Israeli Hostages

UPPER WEST SIDE, NY — Thousands gathered at Columbus Circle on Sunday to mourn the six Israeli hostages, including one Israeli-American, who were found shot dead in Gaza after Hamas had held them in captivity for nearly 11 months.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced the deaths of Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, Ori Daninoon and Hersh Goldberg-Polin on Sunday, saying that Hamas killed them shortly before IDF soldiers reached their location.

The news of their deaths sparked calls for mass protests by families of the hostages, who said their loved ones could have come home alive in a cease-fire deal.

Goldberg-Polin, 23, was a California native who moved to Israel with his family when he was 7 according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which has advocated for the release of those held in captivity.

Goldberg-Polin’s parents recently addressed the Democratic National Convention, to applause and chants of "bring them home." The family had previously met with President Joe Biden and Pope Francis.

Upper West Side Vigil

The New York Hostages and Missing Families Forum organized a candlelight vigil in Columbus Circle to grieve the six hostages and renew their vows "to stop the next murder."

Those gathered waved Israeli flags, sang the Israeli anthem, and recited the Mourner's Kaddish, while expressing both sorrow and anger; the crowd broke out into chants of "bring them home" and also "seal the deal," in reference to a ceasefire agreement.

Levine said there were 5,000 people at the vigil; New York City Police were not able to confirm the exact number.

Hundreds of thousands of people demonstrated after a general strike was called in Israel, with many blaming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the death of the hostages, saying they could have been returned alive had an agreement with Hamas been reached.

Organizers of the demonstrations on Sunday estimated that up to 500,000 people joined nationwide events and the main rally in Tel Aviv, according to the Associated Press. Israeli media estimated that 200,000 to 400,000 took part in the action.

Hamas-led militants killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, when they stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, also taking 250 people hostage.

Israel's retaliatory offensive in Gaza has killed over 40,000 Palestinians, according to the AP, although it's unclear how many of those were Hamas militants.