Two Israeli hostages, Keith and Aviva Siegel, shared their harrowing experiences as they participated in the Israeli Day Parade in New York City on Sunday. They joined thousands of others in calling for the release of the remaining 58 hostages held in Gaza.
Keith, a 66-year-old dual citizen of the US and Israel, emphasized the urgency of freeing the hostages, reflecting on the fear he felt while trapped in Hamas’s tunnel system during his 484 days of captivity.
“I’ve been through a lot of different kinds of abuse,” he recalled, describing the dark tunnels where he was often deprived of food.
“I witnessed the abuse and literal torture of other hostages, including women. There was also sexual abuse,” he added, revealing the cruelty he observed.
He continued, “I saw violence, humiliation, hunger, and dehydration. There were times I couldn’t even clean myself for weeks.” The ordeal left him feeling like a very lucky man, even after witnessing the horrific deaths of many others around him.
Addressing the crowd on Fifth Avenue, he declared, “We have lives that we can save, we have to save them. I feel awful that those left behind do not have their freedom yet. I’m doing whatever I can to bring them back home.” Aviva, who was released in November 2023, described the conditions of their captivity as “one of the worst things anyone can experience,” calling for attention towards the remaining hostages and urging people to advocate for their return.
The parade was filled with supporters waving Israeli flags and chanting slogans like “Hamas Gotta Go.” Among the attendees was injured IDF Captain Liam Supriman, who emphasized Israel’s right to defend itself, sharing his own harrowing experience during a battle. Another participant, Yiftach Golov, also expressed appreciation for the strong turnout in support of Israel.
“Israel is undergoing a great reconstruction of its people. That’s the essence of its strength,” he said. Spilman, another IDF veteran volunteering to protect Israel after the recent attacks, stated that the fight is necessary despite the costs.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams were present at the parade, reinforcing the message of solidarity. Mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo and former governor Andrew Cuomo also attended.
As the chants of “Go home” and “Hamas Gotta Go” filled the air, 25-year-old DeBraly voiced the significance of public participation in the parade during such challenging times. “If you can’t be loud and proud in a city like New York, then where can you?” she remarked.
Meanwhile, 90-year-old Alan Stern from Long Island reiterated the importance of showing support for the Jewish community in these testing moments. “I think it’s essential to be counted,” he stated.
