Hanukkah candles for the innocents kidnapped by Hamas: Israelis who endured the horrors of captivity after their kibbutz was massacred on October 7 light the flames and demand the release of all remaining hostages

Israelis who were taken from their homes on October 7 and lost loved ones before enduring the horrors of captivity have lit candles for Hanukkah as they called on Hamas to release all remaining hostages.

On the fourth night of Hanukkah, a moving vigil was held in Kibbutz Shefayim, central Israel, and was attended by people displaced by the atrocities, in which houses were burned and about 1,200 people were slaughtered.

Among the hostages was Chen Goldstein-Almog, a mother of four who was dragged into Gaza last month before being released, along with three of her children.

The fourth – 20-year-old Yam – and Chen's husband Nadav were killed before her eyes by the terrorists as they stormed kibbutz Kfar Aza.

Families and friends of those still held by Hamas have called for their urgent release, as angry Israelis continue to pressure the government to negotiate their release as the war continues.

Agam Goldstein-Almog, a hostage released as part of a temporary ceasefire, hugs another community member from Kibbutz Kfar Aza

Laughter filled the emotional celebration of Hanukkah, where members of a Hamas-affected community gathered

Agam, a hostage freed by Hamas, was comforted by her mother as she spoke at the Hanukkah event

Community members who survived the bloodshed and escaped from Kibbutz Kfar Aza gathered with Chen and her daughter Agam, 17, to light the Hanukkah candle on Sunday evening.

The pair were seen hugging friends after a horrific few weeks, with many of those present at the somber event appearing emotional as they comforted each other.

On Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant lit candles next to the families of hostages held in Gaza.

“I told the families after our very moving conversation that I hope the lights of Hanukkah will come up in the coming days and that we will see all the children and parents and wives and grandfathers and grandmothers coming home,” Gallant said in a statement. .

“We stand with you in this difficult and extremely tense time, giving you strength and working as determinedly as possible to try to bring them home quickly, and alive – everyone,” he added.

At another Hanukkah vigil on Saturday, protesters demanded the government step up talks with Hamas to free hostages “now.”

Families of the missing were seen crying as they lit candles at a table with empty chairs for those who could not attend to celebrate the Jewish Festival of Lights.

Chen Goldstein-Almog, a hostage released as part of a temporary ceasefire, hugs other community members from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, which was hit hard after the deadly October 7 attack

The vigil took place in the square in front of the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, which has been renamed Hostage Square, and saw supporters join chants calling for the release of the hostages.

Many shed tears as they lit Shabbat candles. Among them was Debi Paz, 64, whose friend's 18-year-old daughter, Liri Albag, is still in Gaza.

'I hope for a miracle. I come here every day, we don't know what to do. We wait 64 days.

“She's just a kid; she was in the army for a month. These people are animals. Worse than animals: they are devils.'

Israel declared war after the sickening attack by Hamas and other Palestinian groups on October 7, which killed 1,200 people and took about 240 back to Gaza as hostages.

More than a hundred women and children held by Hamas were released late last month during a weeklong ceasefire, but now concerns are mounting that any chance of a new ceasefire is disappearing.

Hopes for a new ceasefire are fading as mediator Qatar said on Sunday there is a “shrinking” period to secure a ceasefire, while vowing the country would continue to put pressure on both sides to end the violence fuses.

A couple embraces during the emotional vigil held in Hostage Square, Tel Aviv

Empty dining table chairs were set up for the vigil, which was modeled after a Hanukkah celebration

A mural calling for the Israeli hostages captured by Hamas on October 7 to be brought home

Hamas has warned that no hostages will leave Gaza alive unless demands for the release of prisoners are met. The last temporary ceasefire saw the release of three Palestinian prisoners from Israeli prisons for every hostage returned.

According to Israeli army figures, Hamas is still holding 137 people hostage in Gaza.

More than 18,000 Palestinians were killed in Israel's attack, according to the Hamas-led Health Ministry.