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‘Israel United: Celebrating Israel at 77’ Mega Event Marks 600th day of hostages still held in Gaza
LOS ANGELES, May 28 – Former Israeli hostage Eliya Cohen, who was held captive by the terror group Hamas for 505 days and released in February, told Israeli-Americans and American Jews that “fighting for the freedom” of the remaining hostages is “the most Israeli, the most Jewish, and the most human thing we can do.”
Cohen, kidnapped from the Nova Music Festival, vividly detailed the brutal and inhumane conditions he and others endured in the terror tunnels under Gaza, during the “Israel United: Celebrating Israel at 77” mega event at the Dolby Theater last night. Organized by The Israeli-American Council (IAC), Jewish Federation Los Angeles, Consulate General of Israel in Los Angeles and StandWithUs, “Israel United” took place on the eve of the 600th day since Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas terrorists murdered some 1,200 Israelis and other foreign nationals, injured thousands and kidnapped 251 Israelis and others.
“I may be here, but part of me is still in Gaza. You have united, together, to call for the release of the hostages. You told our stories. You stood up for us. For 505 days, you were fighting for me, while I was in the tunnels under Gaza. And since my release, I’ve been joining you in that fight. Because the hostages still need your help,” Cohen said. “It is possible to bring them home — just like I came home.”
Today, May 28, “we will mark 600 days – 600 days that our brothers and sisters are in captivity. Six hundred days that Am Yisrael [The People of Israel] has not been able to heal. Six hundred days of pain and waiting. There are still 58 hostages. We cannot give up. We cannot lose hope,” he said.
“We are here tonight to celebrate unity and independence. For me, Independence is more than a date on the calendar — it’s the ability to live freely. The fact that I survived, and that I am standing here before you tonight — that is a miracle. After 505 days in captivity, I know the true meaning of freedom. And I believe that fighting for the freedom of the [other hostages] is the most Israeli, the most Jewish, and the most human thing we can do.”
Also addressing the gathering was IAC CEO, the former US Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, Elan Carr. Referring to the founding of the State of Israel, Carr said that Israel not only changed Jewish history but reshaped the world.
“May 1948 was a watershed moment for human history,” he said. Just as the Biblical Exodus from Egypt inspired America’s Founding and the U.S. Civil Rights movement, the creation of Israel was “history’s greatest story of national self- determination. Israel has done more to elevate the human condition than almost any other country. That’s what we are celebrating today. We are here to celebrate a true miracle.”
Other dignitaries who spoke included Israel’s Consul-General in Los Angeles Israel Bachar; Congressman Brad Sherman; Jewish Federation Los Angeles President and CEO Rabbi Noah Farkas; CEO and Cofounder of StandWithUs Roz Rothstein; Australian media personality and Israel advocate Erin Molan.
“Israel United” also featured powerful performances by Israeli star singer Itay Levi, and American actor and comedian Elon Gold. During his performance Levi invited Cohen to the stage and dedicated a song to him and all the former and remaining hostages still held captive in Gaza.
Watch the whole event here:
