500 Days in Captivity: Amal Community Stands with the Hostages

Today marks 500 days since October 7th, a day of trauma and loss that changed Israel forever. It has also been 500 days of captivity for the 73 hostages still held in Gaza—men, women, and children, innocent civilians taken from their homes and families. Each one of them has a name, a story, and a place in the world that remains painfully empty. For 500 days, their families have waited for a sign, a voice, a return. For 500 days, an empty chair has remained at the Shabbat table, and an unbearable longing has filled their homes.

As an educational network committed to human dignity and solidarity, Amal stands with the families and with all of Israeli society in demanding their immediate return. Our moral duty is to amplify their voices and ensure the world remembers: behind every number is a person, a family, a life that must be restored. This is the essence of the bond between a nation and its citizens—the unwavering commitment to bringing them home.

Across Israel today, rallies, vigils, and acts of solidarity echo this call. At 11:40 a.m., family members of the hostages began a 500-minute fast to honor their loved ones. In the Knesset, discussions are being held to shed light on their condition. In Jerusalem, a march from the Prime Minister’s residence to the Knesset is amplifying the demand for action. The cry is clear and urgent: Bring them all home. Now. Only then can we begin to heal, to rebuild, and to renew our society on the foundations of humanity, compassion, and mutual responsibility. Amal will continue to stand with the hostages and their families until the last one returns.