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Transcript/Script ((PLAYBOOK SLUG: ISRAEL HAMAS HOSTAGES ART
HEADLINE: Families of Israeli Hostages Remind World About Hostages
TEASER: Art Installations around the world feature the hostages
PUBLISHED: 11//02/23 at 9:15am
BYLINE: Linda Gradstein
DATELINE: Jerusalem
VIDEOGRAPHER: Ricki Rosen
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: MAS, DLJ
VIDEO SOURCES:
PLATFORMS: WEB __ TV _X__ RADIO _X__
TRT: 3:30
VID APPROVED BY: MAS
TYPE: TV/R
EDITOR NOTES: Web desk, please post camera credit for Ricki Rosen. ))
((INTRO)) [[In addition to the war with Hamas, the Israeli public is focused on the fate of the 240 hostages who were taken by Hamas to Gaza. The families of the hostages have launched a campaign to keep the issue at the forefront of people’s attention, with art installations all over the world, including one at Jerusalem city hall. Linda Gradstein reports for VOA from Jerusalem.]]
((NARRATOR))
The rows and rows of freshly made beds are empty, a reminder that there are still some 240 Israeli hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza.
This art installation at Jerusalem City Hall is one of several about the hostages around the world.
They include empty strollers, empty chairs at tables,
((Mandatory cg: MichaelWest.com))
and empty shoes. For almost a month,
((end courtesy))
the families of the hostages have been living a nightmare.
Rachel Goldberg’s son Hersh, a dual US-Israeli citizen, was kidnapped from the music festival October 7 near Gaza. She visited the installation of empty beds in Jerusalem and says she was drawn to one bed.
((Rachel Goldberg, Mother of Israeli Hostage (Female (in English), VOA))
((Mandatory cg: Zoom))
“It was a bed that was a child’s bed. It wasn’t Hersh’s, Hersh just turned 23, it wasn’t a bed that he would be able to sleep in. But there was something about that bed that I stopped by. And other people ended up coming to me and saying ‘Do you have someone who was kidnapped?’ And I said ‘I do, my son.’ And they said, ‘Is he a little boy?’ because they saw me standing next to the bed. And I said ‘He’s not, but he’ll always be my little boy.’”
((NARRATOR))
Goldberg recently spoke at the U.N. as part of the hostage families’ effort to get the world to pressure Hamas.
((Mandatory cg: @Mojostory))
There is also a worldwide poster campaign that has sparked tensions in New York and elsewhere after some posters were torn down.
Activists are working with the families to publicize the plight of the hostages, including 30 children.
((Mandatory cg: @kidnappedfromisrael))
They produced a video using AI about eight-year-old Naveh, one of the eight members of Gilad Korngold’s family believed to be held hostage by Hamas.
((Mandatory cg: Shiran Somech & Danielle Ofek))
((Nats, video))
AI video of boy: “I keep telling myself it’s just a story, but it’s such a bad one. Who would write this kind of story. I want to go home.”
((NARRATOR))
((Mandatory cg: Israel Government Press Office))
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he is committed to the hostages’ freedom and that the Israeli ground incursion into Gaza may help.
((Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister, Male (in English)))
((Mandatory cg: Israel Government Press Office))
“Our common assessment, not only the Cabinet but also the security forces in the military, is that the ground action actually creates the possibility, not the certainty, but the possibility of getting our hostages out. Because Hamas will not do it unless they’re under pressure.”
((NARRATOR))
But many families fear the ground invasion may complicate matters.
((Radio cue: Again Rachel Goldberg))
((Rachel Goldberg, Mother of Israeli hostage, Female (in English), VOA))
((Mandatory Zoom))
“I worry about the hostages, I worry about the soldiers going in, I worry about the Gazan civilians who are there. I'm very worried on most levels about the ground invasion.”
((NARRATOR))
Noam Calderon has three cousins, including two children, who were taken hostage by Hamas from Kibbutz Nir Oz. She says the government must do more to bring them home.
((Radio cue: We can’t declare victory without bringing the hostages home, she says))
((Noam Calderon, Cousin of Israeli Hostages, Female (in Hebrew,)
“We can’t declare victory without bringing the hostages home (applause and chanting)”
((NARRATOR))
The families say they believe Hamas is using the hostages as human shields, holding them in tunnels deep below ground.
They worry that Israeli ground incursions will only make their rescue more difficult.
(( Linda Gradstein for VOA News, Jerusalem ))
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Jerusalem
Embargo DateNovember 2, 2023 09:56 EDT
BylineLinda Gradstein
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
