A 13-year-old Israeli girl who survived more than a month of Hamas captivity made an emotional appearance in Times Square Saturday, calling for the remaining hostages to be freed.
“I came here today to bring them back home, to let the world know that they have to come home. I know how hard it is there,” Hila Rotem Shoshani said softly in Yiddish to the crowd around Father Duffy Square.
Sunday marks the 100th day of captivity for an estimated 132 victims still being held by Hamas.
A crowd of about 40 people – some holding Israeli flags – watched as Hila and relatives of other hostages gathered around an hourglass that was made in Israel to resemble the model in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square.
The hourglass – which is turned every two hours – was made by a program of troubled youth “to help and support the hostages’ families in their struggle to bring their loved ones back home,” organizer Shany Granot-Lubaton announced.
One of the speakers with Gili Roman, the older brother of Yarden Roman Gat, who was held by Hamas for 54 days.
Yarden’s sister-in-law, Carmel Gat, is still being kept in Gaza.
Carmel, who is an occupational therapist, reportedly helped guide fellow captives through yoga and meditation, survivors previously said.
“Fifty-four days seems like a very long time but now we’re almost double the time since Carmel was taken into Gaza and being held in harsh conditions. We asked for this hourglass clock to be put here as a symbol for all of us — time is running out for the hostages but also for us,” Gili, who lives in Tel Aviv, told the crowd.
“We’re sending the wrong message to the world that this is acceptable, for people to be in captivity as hostages by a terror organization as a tool for war for 100 days. All of us here in Times Square need to stop and understand that this is unacceptable,” he added.
Hila was taken captive from Kibbutz Be’eri on Oct. 7 alongside her mother, Raaia, and her friend, nine-year-old Emily Hand.
The girls were released on the second day of the temporary ceasefire in November, while Raaia remains in captivity.
Hila also spoke Friday at a rally near the United Nations, where she told the crowd life in Hamas custody was “hell,” according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.
Yair Rotem, Hila’s uncle and Raaia’s brother, also spoke.
“There are more than 100 hostages, people kidnapped that are still in Gaza right now. Some of them were really hurt, had their limbs cut off,” he lamented.
“We don’t know if they got any treatment…We don’t know how many of the women there got raped, before captivity and in captivity. We don’t know what situation they are [in], if they’re getting medicines. We just need to bring them back home, all of them, right now, as soon as possible,” he said.
Shani Moses Finkelstein, 19, described how her grandfather and grandmother – Gadi Moses, 79, and Margalit Moses, 78, who are divorced – were taken hostage from their homes.
Margalit was released after 49 days in Gaza, but was sick and is still dealing with “traumas” from the ordeal, Shani explained.
Gadi – whose partner, Efrat, was murdered during the terror attack – is still in Hamas custody.
“We’re now worried mostly about my grandfather who is still there, and tomorrow it will be 100 days. I feel like it’s been a year, so I don’t know how he feels about this 100 days,” she said.
“I would tell him that I really miss him and I wish he’d come back as soon as possible,” she told The Post. “I want him to know that everyone who hears his story is sending him strength.”
Shani’s father, Gadi and Margalit’s son Yair Moses Finkelstein, said the group was in New York “to shout for all the others that are still in Gaza, probably underground for 100 days.”
“And to shout for them that the time is running out, and this hourglass is the best way to see that their time is running out and they must come home as soon as possible because otherwise it will be terrible for us, for them and for everyone,” he added.
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