Politics
Israeli opposition leader to address Labour Friends of Israel rally tomorrow
Hostage families applauded at fringe event in Liverpool
September 23, 2024 17:01
Hostage families applauded at fringe event in Liverpool
September 23, 2024 17:01An Israeli opposition party leader will be a key speaker at Labour Friends of Israel (LFI)’s rally at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool on Tuesday night.
Yair Golan, leader of The Democrats – formed from a merger of Israel’s two left-wing parties, Meretz and the Labour Party – met with Foreign Secretary David Lammy yesterday and called on the government to help secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.
In a post on social media, Golan said he emphasised to Lammy his view that a “hostage release deal is the engine for any positive development in the south and the north [of Israel].”
He continued: “We also discussed the conditions necessary to remove the restrictions imposed by the British government on the export of defence weapons. I found in his words a great sensitivity and a sincere desire to reach the release of the kidnapped and support the security of the State of Israel.”
Golan, who has previously served as the deputy head of the IDF, performed heroics on October 7, when he journeyed to southern Israel in his car and helped rescue civilians who were fleeing Hamas’s atrocities.
Yesterday (Sunday), a number of hostage families who shared their stories with Labour Party members were given a standing ovation at an event hosted by LFI and chaired by Labour MP Sharon Hodgson.
Incredibly moving @_LFI event today. Hearing from the hostage families was so important. #Lab24 pic.twitter.com/OgvIyov0PU
— Jack Robinson (@JackEORobinson) September 22, 2024
Audience members heard from Galia David, whose 23-year-old son Evyatar was taken hostage at the Nova festival; his brother Ilay David also spoke. Sharon Lifschitz, whose 84-year-old father Oded and mother Yocheved were taken from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz also shared her family’s story with conference delegates. Her mother was released in a temporary pause in hostilities between Israel and Hamas last year while Oded remains in captivity in Gaza.
Noam Safir, the grand-daughter of 85-year-old Shlomo Mansour who was taken to Gaza from Kibbutz Kissufim on October 7 is also in Liverpool to raise awareness of her family’s plight.
Hostage families have also been meeting with Labour MPs as part of their time at Labour’s annual conference.
LFI’s director Michael Rubin told the JC: “The plight of the hostages is at the forefront of all our minds at this year’s conference.
“Having the Hostages and Missing Families Forum with us, to talk to Labour MPs and Party members is vital.”
He continued, “Their stories remind conference of the horrors of 7 October and the continued hell the hostages are living in”, and added that LFI would “do all we can to ensure that each hostage is brought back home from Hamas captivity.