An air of urgency and deep sorrow enveloped the UN’s Palais des Nations in Geneva today, where hundreds gathered, urging for international intervention concerning the captives taken by Hamas in a recent assault on Israel.
Led by the Voice for Freedom coalition – a network of Christian Zionist groups – the demonstrators raised Israeli flags and showcased haunting images of the abducted Israelis, children included.
Doris Liber, a heartbroken mother of hostage Guy Itzhak Iluz who was kidnapped during the Music Festival on October 7, shared her harrowing experience. “I’ll never forget that terrible morning. I woke up to a siren, a sound we’ve become all too familiar with in Israel.
“When I finally heard from Guy, he sounded frantic, saying he was coming home to eat. I eagerly awaited his arrival. But then, the horrifying call from his father – Guy was caught in a terror attack,” Liber narrated, her voice heavy with grief.
She continued, detailing the chilling moments. “Guy was shot. He managed to make a desperate 911 call, where he wanted to say his final words to us. We could hear gunshots and voices in Arabic. It was his father who told him to act dead, to remain silent.”
Assaf Shem Tov, uncle of Omer Shem Tov, a hostage taken to Gaza by Hamas, holds a sign calling for his nephew’s release in front of the headquarters of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Geneva, Switzerland, October 20, 2023. (credit: REUTERS/Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber)
‘Please do something.’
As her voice cracked, she urged, “We need action. I implore everyone who can make a difference – please do something.”
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Rev. Johnnie Moore also voiced his frustrations and anguish. “We’ve come to Geneva with the hope that promises made by world leaders about human rights would be fulfilled. Yet, we witness such unspeakable horrors,” he stated.
Moore went on to emphasize the need for international action and cooperation, while also expressing his despair over the state of global media, the actions of the EU, and the UN Human Rights Council’s conduct.
Closing the rally, Moore cited a prayer from Isaiah, praying for peace and the protection of Israel and the Jewish community.
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