Campaigners project hostages’ faces onto iconic Brighton cliffs - The Jewish Chronicle

Activists with the Yellow Ribbon Campaign projected images of the hostages and a giant yellow ribbon onto the cliffs of Brighton this week, lighting up the Brighton seafront with the faces of those still missing in Gaza.

The Yellow Ribbon Campaign, an initiative that highlights the plight of the hostages held by Hamas, used its latest demonstration to draw attention to the 107 hostages remaining in Gaza after Israeli Bedouin Farhan Al-Qadi was dramatically rescued and the body of a soldier was recovered this week.

A yellow ribbon is projected onto the Brighton cliffs to symbolise support for the hostages still in Gaza. (Photo: Alexx P Sherman)[Missing Credit]

Organiser Heidi Bachram, whose husband Adam Ma’anit has a relative held captive in Gaza, said: “The British government needs to do more to advocate for the hostages and support their families. We need pressure on Qatar particularly as the UK has so much influence there. I don’t see enough of that happening.”

There’s a British hostage in Gaza and many have family here including my husband whose cousin is in the darkness with Hamas. We projected their faces and a giant yellow ribbon onto Brighton’s iconic cliffs. To shine a light. Don’t leave them in the dark. Bring them home NOW. pic.twitter.com/MwhNtBpTIE

— Heidi Bachram 🎗️ (@HeidiBachram) August 29, 2024

Ma’anit’s cousin Tsachi Idan, 50, was kidnapped after terrorists murdered his daughter Ma’ayan, 18, in their home in Nahal Oz on October 7. Bachram pointed out that Tsachi and other hotstages have now been captive in Gaza for over 10 months.

A photo of British-Israeli hostage Emily Damari is projected onto the Brighton cliffs by the Yellow Ribbon Campaign. (Photo: Nikki Greco)[Missing Credit]

She added: “With negotiations moving so slowly and conditions worsening, it is urgent that the hostages are brought home immediately. Tsachi cannot wait another second. None of them can.”

Bachram said that she and the other activists with the Yellow Ribbon Campaign had planned the Brighton cliff projections for weeks, and she said that the idea and execution was a team effort, with support from JW3.

“It was nighttime and in an isolated spot, so we were a little nervous, but passers-by were curious and friendly,” Bachram said. “We find that each time we do these hostage actions, the silent majority see the humanity of what we’re doing and respond to it. When the faces of the hostages flashed up, everyone went quiet. It was overwhelming. No one decent can look into all those people’s eyes and not want them home."

A yellow ribbon is projected onto the Brighton cliffs by the Yellow Ribbon Campaign. (Photo: Nikki Greco)[Missing Credit]

Last month, the Brighton-based campaigners unfurled a massive yellow ribbon along the Brighton seafront to represent the magnitude of their love and support for the hostages, aiming to draw attention to their ongoing plight.

Ma’anit is one of five people in the UK with a relative held hostage in Gaza. Two Israelis who were killed by Hamas terrorists have relatives in the Brighton area. Shay Levinson, 19, was killed and his body was kidnapped to Gaza, and Ilan Weiss, 56, who worked in security at Kibbutz Be’eri, was murdered fighting terrorists and his body was also taken.

Topics:

Hostages

Yellow ribbon campaign

Brighton