Installation of Hamas Hostages Draws Thousands to Times Square; Empty Shabbat Table with 224 Seats Set Up

Edited by: TJVNews.com

Several Jewish organizations joined forces Thursday to unveil an installation in Times Square and raise awareness of the hundreds of people believed to be held hostage by Hamas, as was reported by WPIX.

Empty Shabbat table set up in Times Square as a reminder of the missing presence of the 224 hostages that were kidnapped by Hamas terrorists. @TimesSquareNYC #BringThemHomeNow #FreeTheHostages #HamasMassacres #hamasiISIS #IsraelAtWar pic.twitter.com/Ul9ZIhJHzl

— The Jewish Voice (@JewishVoice) October 26, 2023

 An empty Shabbat table with 224 seats sat in the middle of Times Square, symbolizing the hostages held captive in Gaza and not able to observe Shabbat with family.

“It’s about bringing memories,” said Tal Shustar of the Israeli-American Council, according to the WPiX reported. “Celebrating our Shabbat dinner, celebrating the holy days. We have 224 hostages that were kidnapped on Oct. 7, and they are not part of these memories.”

Right now in Times Square. #BringThemHomeNow set up a Shabbat table for the 224 hostages kidnapped by Hamas terrorists. #FreeTheHostages @TimesSquareNYC #HamasNazis #HamasMassacres #kidnapped #IsraelAtWar pic.twitter.com/KwgAiKSqcE

— The Jewish Voice (@JewishVoice) October 26, 2023

The pictures of kidnapped Israelis and Americans adorned the backs of chairs while teddy bears were placed on the ground, serving as a powerful reminder of the missing children.

The WPIX report indicated that Nave Strauss believes his family is among the kidnapped.

“We’re in a constant state of anxiety and depression,” Strauss told WPIX. “There’s little to no information. We don’t know if they’re alive. We have to hold hope. It’s been the horror of all horrors.”

The installation came just days after two hostages were released last Friday and two more on Monday, according to the WPIX report.

Netflix reality Star Julia Haart says that the brutal Hamas massacre & the kidnapping of hostages has nothing to do with land disputes but rather a seething and unrelenting hatred of Jews. She is holding a copy of The Jewish Voice. @JuliaHaart @netflix #BringThemHomeNow… pic.twitter.com/lzPspnPl84

— The Jewish Voice (@JewishVoice) October 26, 2023

Hila Leumi-Levy believes her 19-year-old niece is being held captive and is praying for the safe return of all hostages, she told WPIX.“She’s so young and she just started her life and we just want her back,” Leumi-Levy said.

The installation unveiling happened at the same time as thousands of ralliers stormed Wall Street in support of Palestinians in Hamas run Gaza. CBS News reported that the rally started outside the New York Stock Exchange and participants marched through Lower Manhattan on Thursday.

Netflix reality star Julia Haart is seen with her three children, Shlomo (left), BatSheva and Miriam on the right. They are attending a rally in Times Square in support of the release of the 224 hostages taken by Hamas terrorists. @JuliaHaart @TimesSquareNYC @netflix… pic.twitter.com/vSPPwFoNdy

— The Jewish Voice (@JewishVoice) October 26, 2023

Demonstrators marched to city hall protesting against U.S. weapons manufacturers, hoping to put pressure on companies supplying the Israeli war effort, according to the CBS News report.

Organizers asked participants to “Flood Wall Street for Gaza.”

The NYPD says at least 350 pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered on Wall Street around 5:30 p.m. CBS News reported that at  6:30 p.m., they started marching north, making their way to Foley Square and an American flag was burned by the demonstrators.

A flyer for the rally called out several American companies that organizers say are making bombs being dropped in Gaza.

“I am a Muslim, and I support my Palestinian brothers and everything that’s going on in the world right now,” one demonstrator told CBS News.

“The reason why people are fighting — do you think these people are crazy? Like, these people– There’s a reason for it. There’s a reason why after one incident that happened on October 7th, these are the lives that every day for the Palestinians for the past 75 years,” another demonstrator said, as was reported by CBS News.

Things got heated at one point on Nassau Street when a community affairs officer had to get between a group with flyers of kidnapped Israelis and the supporters of the Palestinian people.

CBS News also reported that multiple units from the NYPD followed the protesters throughout the city, including the Counterterrorism Bureau, as well as officers on motorcycles. The NYPD said there were no arrests.

“The Palestinians have been facing year after year after year of persecution,” one demonstrator said.

Eventually, the group gathered at Washington Square Park and then dispersed.