Hundreds at Bondi vigil

More than 500 people gathered in unity at Bondi Beach as the sun set on May 28, for a moving vigil marking 600 days since the remaining 58 hostages were taken captive from southern Israel into Gaza by Hamas and other Palestinian terror groups.

The solemn event – organised by Operation Golda, the Zionist Council of NSW, the Australasian Union of Jewish Students and Sydney’s Jewish youth movements – saw participants form what emcee Shoshana Eisner described as “a ribbon of light, visible from on high”, to symbolise unity and hope for the immediate release of all those still held captive.

“Irrespective of gender, age, where you live, who you vote for, or who you feel controls the universe – we are standing here tonight, united,” Eisner told the crowd, before encouraging them to take three collective deep breaths, while listening to the sound of the waves crashing.

“It’s been 600 days [for the hostages] without taking deep breaths, 600 days without feeling clean, 600 days unable to hug loved ones,” she said.

“Hope is mandatory – and this has become my mantra when I feel despair.