Anyone out and about in central Vienna on Friday may have noticed an empty Shabbat table. This is an installation that aims to draw attention to the hostages kidnapped in the Gaza Strip. The “Hostages and Missing Families Forum – Bring Them Home Now” initiative is behind the campaign.
A table with 229 chairs was set up in the center of Vienna on Friday between 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. A missing person’s report should hang on every chair in memory of a person abducted from Israel to the Gaza Strip by Hamas. A plate, fork and knife were laid out for each person. At one end of the table were pastries and a bottle of alcohol. The Jewish-Austrian students posted photos of the installation on platform X (formerly Twitter).
Here you can see the message from the Jewish-Austrian students.
The installation is part of the Israeli initiative “Hostages and Missing Families Forum – Bring them home now”, co-organized by the Jewish community of Vienna. The Israeli initiative was launched 24 hours after the Hamas attack. Since then, Jewish communities have organized actions around the world, most recently in London, Rome and Paris. We would like to draw attention to the unbearable, difficult situation of the kidnapped family members.
“Great suffering for families and friends”
“The empty chairs at the Shabbat tables represent the great suffering of their families and friends. Every week on Shabbat, the whole family gathers to eat together and begin the day of rest. We hope with all our hearts that the communal Shabbat will soon be possible again for the many torn families,” said Immanuel Turkof, organizer of the initiative in Austria, in a press release.
There will be no more peaceful Shabbat until the 229 hostages can celebrate it, according to writer and historian Doron Rabinovici.
Here you will see a critical contribution about the action in Vienna.
Mixed reactions
On Platform X, reactions were mixed. While some emphasize hope and thank you for the initiative, others believe that the action does not show any solidarity. One user noted that all deceased Palestinians could have been commemorated.
On Friday evening it was announced that the Israeli army had started its expected ground offensive in the Gaza Strip. This was announced by Jordanian Foreign Minister Aiman Safadi. The ruling Hamas would use the largest hospital in the coastal region as a command and control center. A ceasefire is a condition for the release of hostages, a representative of the terrorist organization said.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
