Israel’s President Isaac Herzog delivers a speech during a tribute ceremony at the Halle aux Grains in Toulouse, southern France, on March 20, 2022. Photo: Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS
In a New Year’s message shared on social media before the start of 2024, Israel’s President Isaac Herzog called on the international community “to demand and work for the immediate, unconditional release” of the 133 hostages who are still being held by Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip since the Oct. 7 terrorist attack that took place in southern Israel.
“Babies, the elderly, women, men, are being held in brutal captivity by Hamas, without vital medication or visitation from the Red Cross,” Herzog tweeted in the Sunday message, which was posted on X/Twitter in 10 languages.
“Their immediate release is at the core of our battle with Hamas terrorists in Gaza,” he added. “May the light dispel the darkness, and may the New Year bring peace, hope, and healing for all.”
The message was posted on Herzog’s X account in Hebrew, English, Arabic, Spanish, Russian, French, Italian, Hindi, German, and Portuguese.
As we enter 2024, I call on the entire family of nations, on all world leaders, to demand and work for the immediate, unconditional release of our 133 hostages.
Babies, the elderly, women, men, are being held in brutal captivity by Hamas, without vital medication or visitation…
— Isaac Herzog Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) December 31, 2023
The temporary ceasefire between Hamas and Israel, which ended on Dec. 1, resulted in the release of over 100 of the 240 hostages taken by the Palestinian terrorist organization during its surprise attack in southern Israel on Oct. 7, during which the terrorists also slaughtered 1,200 people. Israeli soldiers mistakenly killed three hostages during combat in Gaza.
In exchange for the release of some hostages, Israel released more than 200 Palestinians from Israeli prisons.
At least 6,900 others have been injured in Israel by Hamas and other Palestinian terrorists since Oct. 7, according to figures from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The IDF also said that a total of 506 Israeli soldiers have been killed since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Of that total, most died during the Oct. 7 massacre, and 172 have been killed in combat in Gaza.
Israel launched its ground offensive in Hamas-ruled Gaza in late October.
