One hundred days ago, on the 600th day since Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault, I wrote about the pain of reaching that milestone. I could not imagine that we would reach today — day 700 — with dozens of hostages still held in Gaza. It is not possible, not logical and not real. But here we are, marking it.
In Israel, large numbers like 100, 300 or 700 are noted with events and ceremonies. But for those trapped in the tunnels, every day is the same. An eternity in hell. No one celebrates milestones underground. No one brought me a cake on day 200 or day 400. No one gave me relief because another round number had passed.
The tunnel is the same tunnel. The hunger is the same hunger. The fear is as strong as the day before and the day after.
I was freed from captivity. But 48 hostages remain in Gaza — some alive, some dead. Every passing day has been filled with lost opportunities to bring them home. Moments of almost, followed by disappointments, pain and fear.
Inside the tunnels, there is no light, no air, no way to know day from night. The terrorists told me that if they heard the army approaching, I would be executed immediately. How many times do the hostages who are still there hear those same threats? How often do they fear they have been forgotten?
Now, as Israel expands its military campaign in Gaza and no negotiations are underway, I ask: what are the hostages thinking? Expanding the war will not bring them back. It will only endanger them, push them farther from home and add more days to the count.
Will it soon be two years? Will we mark that too while hostages are still trapped underground? How much more must the families, friends and all of Israeli society endure before we begin to heal?
Many already wear the double pin that marks the next milestone. But this cannot be just another number. It must be the end point, and the start of something new. A time when everyone is already here. A time to rebuild, to grow from the pain.
I am not willing to give up — not on them, not on hope, not on the possibility of recovery, not on the duty that everyone must be here. Please do not give up on them, on us, on the path of Israeli society to rise again.
And thank you. Thank you for not giving up.