v Around 500 cyclists rode through one of the capital’s most iconic parks, bearing Israeli flags and yellow ribbons, as part of a global initiative to express solidarity with the Jewish state and to demand the safe return of hostages.
On October 7, Hamas murdered around 1,200 people in the south of Israel and took some 240 people hostage. Over 130 are still held in captivity.
Organiser Howard Kayman, who oversaw the London leg of the #RideToBringThemHomeNow, which was held in 40 cities across the globe, said the seven laps around Regent’s Park were “magical” and “something I will never forget”.
“Everyone arrived on time, and there were no mechanical problems,” he said. “The way the community came together was awesome, and I pray that the hostages will be released soon, so we can ride again to celebrate.”
British Tour de France winner Chris Froome OBE, who is oart of the Israel-Premiere Tech cycling team, joined the global bike ride from Israel.
He called on his millions of social media followers to join him by tying a yellow ribbon on their bike.
Froome said: “As a human being, as a father myself, I cannot stand idly by.”
He said the suffering of the captives held in the Gaza Strip had “deeply” affected him.
Mike Marlowe, father of Jake Marlowe, the 26-year-old who was murdered on October 7 at the Supernova music festival, also assisted in leading the London group, while wearing a t-shirt with the face of hostage Shlomi Ziv printed on it.
Shlomi, Mike said, was “like an older brother” to his son Jake, who had made aliyah two years ago and had been befriended by the Ziv family. Shlomi’s cousin, Aviv, was also murdered on October 7.
Addressing the crowd, Mike said: “One hundred days. One hundred days of not knowing. One hundred days of mental torture for the families. One hundred days of utter hell for our hostages.
“I am not a religious man, but I pray each day for Shlomi’s safe return and for all the other hostages, and for their families waiting to hug them again.”
Mike also condemned the “utterly shameful” International Red Cross and United Nations in light of the October 7 atrocities.
A WhatsApp group created for the London leg contained hundreds of participants, who, in the hours after the ride, praised the organisers for a “powerful, historical and superbly organised” event. Others described the day as “such an uplifting and positive experience” and said it had been “a privilege” to take part.
You can upload your photos of the ride, using the hashtags
BringThemHomeNow and RideToBringThemHomeNow
