The March of Life organized a vigil in Tübingen on Saturday afternoon to remember the more than 130 Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Around 200 people gathered at the Holzmarkt at 12:00 noon.
Participants walked through the city center with posters bearing photos, names, and ages of the hostages. During the program of the vigil, they held up the posters on the steps of the collegiate church.
Jobst Bittner, the founder of March of Life, commemorated the brutal Hamas attack on Israeli towns on October 7, 2023, in which more than 1,200 people were murdered, and 240 were taken hostage. Bittner warned against false narratives, as Israel is being portrayed as the perpetrator through deliberate misinformation, as quoted by the anti-Semitism commissioner of the state of Berlin.
Participants read out the names of all hostages still remaining in Gaza. Among the Israeli hostages held by the terrorist organization Hamas are individuals of all ages, including women, men, a one-year-old child, and even a Holocaust survivor. Following this, the Tübingen band Beer Sheva performed two Hebrew songs, ‘Shuva Adonai’ and ‘Habaita,’ which call for the safe return of the hostages and their reunion with their families.
In his speech, Heinz Reuss, International Director of the March of Life, emphasized the importance of this mission. The method by which the hostages were taken is unprecedented in history. Equally unparalleled is the lack of response from the international community. Women’s rights organizations, in particular, have paid little attention to the Israeli women and girls who were raped, even on International Women’s Day.
He concluded by demanding political solidarity with Israel and support for Jews worldwide. He also called for Hamas to lay down its weapons and release the hostages, stating that it is the quickest and best way to end the conflict in Gaza.
