Prayers at Jerusalem's Western Wall as hopes remain of return of Israeli hostages in Gaza

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(13 Aug 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Jerusalem - 13 August 2024
1. Various of worshippers praying for unity and return of hostages at Western Wall
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Shai Zohar, uncle of Israeli hostage Omer Neutra:
"On this day, exactly 1,956 years ago, our holy temple was disrupted. And from its ashes and berries, we came to where we are today. We believe this is a capable day, and that our prayers will go all the way up, and bring our hostages back."
3. Zohar singing prayer with worshippers
4. Close of Zohar's t-shirt with photo of his nephew, hostage Omer Neutra, reading (English): "Bring them home now"
5. Various of Zohar during prayer
6. SOUNDBITE (English) Shai Zohar, uncle of Israeli hostage Omer Neutra:
"Well, it's an emotional rollercoaster with ups and downs in this particular phase. I think for the past three months, they've been talking about a new proposal and a new deal. There's a gathering on Thursday in Qatar, I believe. And we're hopeful that this time it will make it."
7. Various of people during prayers
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Shai Zohar, uncle of Israeli hostage Omer Neutra:
"Well, I think praying helps and I think that alongside with praying, we need to take actions. And as I've mentioned before, we're pushing heavily on all global leaders, as well as our own government, to bring this to the end and bring the hostages back."
9. Worshippers at Western Wall
10. Israeli flag
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Eitiel Goldwicht, worshipper:
"I'm here together with Shai. His nephew is still held captive in Gaza. And we're here with thousands and thousands of Jews from around the world in one of the holiest days of the Jewish calendar and we're starting our national prayer for their safe return and all of the hostages' safe return."
12. Rabbi of Western Wall Shmuel Rabinovitch reciting prayer
13. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Shmuel Rabinovitch, Rabbi of the Western Wall:
"The people of Israel on this great day, a day of self-examination over free hatred, unites and expresses itself in a common prayer to express free love and that we think of each other, care for each other and hope that these days will become for us a day of joy. We will be redeemed and saved and prove to the entire world that the nation of Israel is alive."
14. Rabinovitch and others reciting prayer
15. Woman blowing shofar (ancient horn)
16. Wide of prayer
STORYLINE:
Worshippers gathered at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Tuesday to pray for unity of the Jewish people and the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza.

The prayer was held on Tisha B’Av, a day of mourning commemorating the destruction of the biblical Temples with a daylong fast.

It comes as Israel braces for a potential Iranian retaliation after a blast in Tehran killed Hamas’ leader — an attack blamed on Israel.

Shai Zohar, uncle of Israeli hostage Omer Neutra, attended the prayer and said that he hopes "that our prayers will go all the way up, and bring our hostages back."

The Israel-Hamas war was sparked by the unprecedented Oct. 7 raid into southern Israel in which militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250 hostages.

Israel says the militants are still holding around 100 hostages and the remains of more than 30 others.

A one week cease-fire in November saw the release of around 100 Israeli hostages in exchange for a larger number of Palestinian prisoners.


Talks are expected to resume Thursday.

AP Video shot by Moshe Edri

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