2024 was undoubtedly marked by the resounding call to "Bring them home." These 365 days, perhaps the longest in the nation's history, saw Israeli citizens adamantly refuse to leave the hostages behind.
Media outlets, family members, and countless citizens joined forces to keep public attention focused on the hostages' plight. In a year of unprecedented turmoil, many continued their daily struggle for the freedom of their brothers and sisters held captive in Gaza by enemy forces.
As the new year approaches, Israelis must reflect on twelve months of diverse initiatives: from public demonstrations to powerful speeches and compelling exhibits – each effort, though yet to achieve its ultimate goal, strengthening the collective resolve. One hundred men, women, and children remain in captivity, possibly unaware that another year has passed.
The yellow ribbon, originally a symbol of captivity, evolved into a powerful emblem of solidarity. From Olympic venues to cultural festivals, even appearing on holiday treats in bakery windows, these yellow markers became deeply embedded in the national consciousness. Nearly every public event throughout the year included at least a mention of those still waiting to come back home in Gaza.
Town squares across Israel transformed into visual testimonials, gradually filling with portraits of the hostages and calls for their return. The imagery became so pervasive that it reshaped the character of many cities, with local residents turning their public spaces into monuments of solidarity with the hostages' families.
The empty chair campaign emerged as another powerful symbol. These vacant seats, often paired with hostage photographs, appeared in locations nationwide – from city squares to urban centers to ordinary streets – each chair standing empty, waiting for them to come home.
Public demonstrations, though sometimes controversial, maintained consistent pressure throughout the year. Weekly gatherings at Hostages Square and other locations kept the issue at the forefront of national dialogue.
These efforts united diverse groups – citizens, hostage families, and released hostages – in calling for decisive action. They organized massive marches in Tel Aviv, blocked roads, lit bonfires, spray-painted protest slogans, and set up stages where people spoke about bringing the hostages home. These rallies drew support from government ministers, artists, and other public figures.
The artistic response in 2024 produced numerous innovative protest installations. Citizens created human displays, and sculptures, and reimagined everyday objects as symbols of protest. Notable projects included yellow shirt displays, a 98-foot replica of a Hamas tunnel, coordinated vehicle processions, and torch installations commemorating the casualties of the Iron Swords War.
This creative activism transformed public spaces into powerful reminders of the ongoing crisis, ensuring the hostages remained central to national consciousness throughout the year.
