A sombre International Women’s Day event in Bondi
Around 300 women gathered at Bondi Beach to remember the women remaining as hostages in Gaza.
Photo: Henry Benjamin/J-Wire
They were told: “Imagine it was your mother. Your sister. Your daughter or your best friend.
.. And you had no answers about how or where they are after 153 days.
Let that sink in.
Five months. It is simply 3657 hours too long . .”
Many women were carrying placards showing the faces of those still held by Hamas. They all wore a yellow ribbon around their wrists.
Photo: Henry Benjamin/J-Wire
The address continued: “We have all heard about the torture, the rape, the barbaric treatment and the despicable acts that Hamas have committed but it is unimaginable knowing your loved ones are still being held by these monsters after 21 weeks and still being subjected to these inhumane acts.
Every day feels so long as we wait.. we wait and pray for the return of the remaining 134 hostages, including 19 women and two children.
14 women who we believe and hope are still alive and in Gaza – it is beyond our imagination what barbaric acts they are being put through.
We continually think of the missed moments they could have had with their families and that we may take for granted – birthday parties, family celebrations, first steps or last kisses good night. These are moments they can’t get back and we must do everything we can to keep our focus and draw attention to the fact that this is simply not good enough.
Photo: Henry Benjamin/J-Wire
It is beyond belief that It took the UN 150 days to come out THIS WEEK to FINALLY state that there was enough proof to believe that women were raped, gang raped, and corpses were raped on October 7. Wake up world!
How can we celebrate International Women’s Day when we know that our girls are held in captivity and yet not enough voices are screaming or doing enough to ensure they return to their families where they belong?
Women’s Advocacy organisations and celebrities who champion women remain silent.”
