“There is nothing to celebrate when the hostages are still in Gaza,” their families lament in Israel on Passover

Normally, Passover, the Jewish Passover, is synonymous with family reunions and celebration. But this year, relatives of the hostages held in Gaza will not celebrate it, due to not being able to all be together.

In Israel, Monday April 22 marks the start of the holiday of Pessah, the Jewish Passover, which celebrates the Exodus of the Jewish people from Egypt. Normally, this period is synonymous with celebration, joy and great family reunions in the country. But after the Hamas attack on October 7, the heart is not really in it, 129 hostages are officially still being held in Gaza, including 34 presumed dead. Their families have appealed to Israelis to leave an empty chair Monday evening during the traditional Seder meal so as not to forget them.

A big family reunion, that’s what Passover celebrations normally look like at the Cohen family in Tel Aviv. Yotam, the eldest son, scrolls through the photos on his phone. “It’s the whole family two years ago, he describes. Me, Nimrod, my sister, my parents. We had put on our party outfits, we were having fun. We won’t be taking this photo this year unfortunately.”

But this year, no celebration, his little brother Nimrod, 19, is still hostage in Gaza. “Passover is a day that symbolizes freedom. How could I celebrate freedom when my brother is still held back? he adds. It’s absurd.”

Family dinner, one more challenge

Sharone Lifschitz, she does not know if her father Oded, aged 83, is still alive but she decided to join the members of her kibbutz of Nir Oz for a big dinner Monday evening all together, an increasingly difficult ordeal. reality. “It’s so upsetting, because in the moments when we all find ourselves together, their absence is glaring, he confides. We’ve lost so many people and many won’t come because it’s too hard to bear.”

“It’s an impossible situation, because when we meet, we’re really confronted with the trauma. It’s reflected in everyone’s eyes.”

Sharone Lifschitz, whose father is held hostage

at franceinfo

On Passover evening, there is a traditional song that we sing as a family. “What is different about this night compared to the others? For us, nothing has changed. For me, it is still the night of October 7, sighs Yotam. There is nothing to celebrate when the hostages are still in Gaza.” Instead of celebrating Passover, Yotam will demonstrate on Monday evening to demand a release agreement for his brother and all the other hostages.