‘Unimaginable what they’ve endured’: Winnipeg Jewish leaders hopeful as surviving Israeli hostages released

Local Jewish community leaders expressed joy and mixed emotion Monday as surviving Israeli hostages were released by Hamas amid the signing of a peace plan to end the more than two-year war in Gaza.

Hamas released 20 remaining living Israeli hostages and Israel started to free hundreds of Palestinians from its prisons, as world leaders met in Egypt for the signing of the ceasefire deal between Hamas and Israel.

“Certainly, we’re very happy that finally, the 20 surviving hostages were released. It’s been two years and coming and it’s unimaginable what they’ve endured over the last two years, but we saw a number of them today who looked like they’re in relatively good shape,” said Jeff Lieberman, the chief executive officer of the Jewish Federation of Winnipeg.

“It’s really exciting that they’re back home with their families. It’s unfortunate that there’s still 28 hostages who didn’t survive this and we’re still waiting for those bodies to be returned to their families.”

Jews in Winnipeg and elsewhere are “very happy for this moment,” added Lieberman.

He said local community members have held weekly rallies calling for the release of hostages since Oct. 7, 2023.

“There was one (Sunday), that was the last one, and every week, we would say, ‘Hopefully, this will be the last one,’” said Lieberman. “Finally, the last one was held yesterday.”

The war was sparked when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel, killing just under 1,200 Israelis and others and taking 251 people hostage on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel launched an offensive in Gaza, killing more than 67,000 Palestinians in the two years since.

Jews in Winnipeg and elsewhere are “very happy for this moment,” said Lieberman, though they will continue to call for the return of dead hostages and mourn the Israeli soldiers killed in the war.

“At the same time, we have optimism and hope that there will be peace in the region and peace for Israel,” said Lieberman.

Gustavo Zentner, vice president for Manitoba and Saskatchewan of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, expressed hope, enthusiasm and relief on Monday over the release of the surviving hostages.

“Our thoughts are with the families that are being reunited, we celebrate in our people coming together, and being ready to move on into the next chapter,” said Zentner.

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“At the same time, we are extremely mindful of how serious, solemn it is for many of the families who have lost family members, who were murdered by Hamas, and they’re still waiting for the return of the remains of their family members.”

Zentner said he was glued to the television news until past 4 a.m. on Monday as the deal was signed and hostages were released.

“That filled me with hope, but at the same time, here at home in Manitoba, we in the Canadian Jewish advocacy side, we urge our government — all levels of government — to continue to support the U.S.-led peace initiative,” said Zentner.

“We need the government of Canada to recognize that this is only the first phase of a larger project. I think it’s paramount that the Canadian government supports a principled approach, ensuring peace in the region, the complete removal of Hamas and any other terror organization that threatens the lives of Israelis and Palestinians.”

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca

Erik Pindera
Reporter

Erik Pindera is a reporter for the Free Press, mostly focusing on crime and justice. The born-and-bred Winnipegger attended Red River College Polytechnic, wrote for the community newspaper in Kenora, Ont. and reported on television and radio in Winnipeg before joining the Free Press in 2020.  Read more about Erik.

Every piece of reporting Erik produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the Free Press‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about Free Press’s history and mandate, and learn how our newsroom operates.