Calgarians return from Israel; raise awareness about hostages still held by Hamas
Global News
A group of Calgary volunteers handed out milk cartons to raise awareness of the hostages still held in in the Middle East by Hamas.
Several Calgarians have returned from a trip to Israel as part of the Canadian National Leadership Solidarity Mission.
On Friday, they joined volunteers in downtown Calgary, hoping to get the message out about the many hostages who are still left behind.
The faces of men, women and children being held hostage by Hamas are on the milk cartons being handed out on Stephen Avenue in Calgary.
It’s a message from members of Calgary’s Jewish community about the ongoing struggle in Israel to bring loved ones home.
“We wanted to find a way to have a conversation with Calgarians about the hostages and about Oct. 7 and the fact that more than 1,400 people were murdered that there are still hostages of all ages,” said Lisa Libin president of the Calgary Jewish Federation.
Libin was part of a delegation of dozens of people including five MPs — two Liberal and three Conservative — who were in Israel this week.
They met with government officials and visited the Kfar Aza kibbutz near the Gaza border that saw members killed on Oct. 7 by Hamas.
“It’s imprinted on you. You can’t hear the stories or go to the kibbutz without seeing the atrocities and see entire parts of the village burned down and see grenade remnants and see the blood and smell it.