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As the 37th annual March of the Living commenced Thursday in memory of the six million Jews murdered in the Holocaust, survivors of Hamas captivity and relatives of hostages and victims from the October 7 massacre joined a delegation of Gaza border region representatives in Poland. In a powerful statement near the crematorium at the Auschwitz death camp, they reflected on the link between past and present Jewish trauma.
Eli Sharabi, who survived captivity in Gaza after his wife and daughters were murdered on October 7, spoke in a trembling voice alongside his brother Sharon. “The Holocaust was unlike anything else—we will never forget and never forgive,” he said. “Our presence here is the triumph of the Jewish spirit. The Jewish people will live forever.”
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President Isaac Herzog, captivity survivor Eli Sharabi and Polish President Andrzej Duda at March of the Living
(Photo: Wojtek RADWANSKI / AFP)
Calling for the release of the 59 remaining hostages in Gaza, he added: “The Jewish people sanctify life, not death. The unwritten contract between the state and its citizens must not be broken—all the hostages must come home.”
Sharabi continued, “I lost my wife and daughters on October 7. I endured horrors in enemy captivity, but I chose life. That gives me hope to get up each morning and begin rebuilding.”
Their brother, Yossi Sharabi, was killed in Hamas captivity; his body remains in Gaza.
Sharon Sharabi declared, “This human wall is stronger than any wall that stood in the ghetto. It’s not only physical—it carries all the necessary strength, the Jewish spirit. This wall cannot be broken. As a people, we will hold accountable those responsible for the blood spilled on October 7 and in the Holocaust our grandparents endured. We will not give up. We will not raise our hands in surrender. As one nation, we will stand tall.”
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Sharon Saharbi, First Lady Michal Herzog, President Isaac Herzog and Eli Sharabi at the March of the Living
(Photo: Chen Shimal)
At the entrance to the crematorium at Auschwitz, Michael, grandfather of hostage Bar Kupershtein, cried out to the heavens: “In this cursed place, the embodiment of evil, I cry out—bring back my grandson! Bring back all 59 hostages!” Bar’s grandmother, Faina, added: “The entire Jewish people are with us. I thank everyone—but I need my grandson back. We can’t wait any longer.”
Shelly, the mother of former hostage Omer Shem Tov, spoke through tears: “My Omer came back, but we must bring all 59 hostages home. There’s no more time. This is my first time on the soil of Auschwitz—and perhaps the most fitting moment to raise this cry to the heavens and the world.”
They were joined by other members of the delegation, including freed hostage Ori Magidish, families of hostages and fallen victims from the October 7 massacre. Before the march, participants sat in a circle, passing a ball of yarn, each sharing their emotions at being on Auschwitz soil.
The March of the Living, held between Auschwitz and Birkenau, marks 80 years since the liberation of the Nazi death camps and the end of World War II. Leading the march this year are President Isaac Herzog and First Lady Michal Herzog, alongside Polish President Andrzej Duda and 80 Holocaust survivors from Israel and abroad—the oldest among them, 98-year-old Bella Eisenman.
Among those marching: IDF observer soldier and former hostage Agam Berger, accompanied by her grandfather Aharon, her mother Merav and twin sister Bar; Ori Magidish, rescued from Gaza, with her mother Margalit; Eli Sharabi, marching with his brother Sharon, to demand the return of their brother Yossi, whose body remains in Hamas captivity; Hagar Brodutch, accompanied by her sister Yaara; and Almog Meir Jan, marching with his mother Orit. Also participating are Chen Goldstein-Almog, Moran Stella Yanai, Gadi Mozes with his daughter Moran, and Keith Siegel with his daughter Ilan.
From Poland, Keith Siegel sent a message to fellow hostage Omri Miran, who appeared in a new Hamas video released just a day earlier. “I’m here in Poland at the March of the Living—the place meant to represent ‘Never Again’—and yet 59 hostages remain in Gaza’s tunnels,” said Siegel. “I saw the footage of Omri Miran calling to be rescued. I was held with him for months. I met a strong, unbreakable person. Omri—don’t break. I know how terrible the conditions are, the pain, the loneliness.”
“We must bring Omri back now. We must bring all 59 hostages back now. That is our duty—as Jews, as Israelis. This is why we established a state. Omri, if you’re seeing me now, know that Lishay, Danny, the whole family, all your friends and this amazing nation—people fighting every day—won’t give up on you or the others. Stay strong. I love you.”
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As the March of the Living began at Auschwitz, a small group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators confronted participants, shouting slogans including “Free Palestine.” They were met with chants of “Am Yisrael Chai” (“The people of Israel live”).
Ahead of the march, President Herzog met with his Polish counterpart, Andrzej Duda. The two discussed ongoing efforts to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas and the global rise in antisemitism. They also stressed the importance of Holocaust remembrance and the need to preserve its legacy for future generations.
Following their meeting, Herzog and Duda visited Block 27—the Jewish pavilion at Auschwitz—where they viewed the Book of Names and delivered joint statements to the media. They later met with a joint Israeli-Polish youth delegation to discuss Holocaust memory and the responsibility of the next generation.
“In days when antisemitism rears its ugly head, often cloaked in vile hatred of Israel and calls for the destruction of the State of Israel—we must stand firm and breathe life into the promise of 'Never again'—through legislation, enforcement, education and culture," Herzog said.
"The joint meeting we are holding today with young people gives this initiative strong momentum, embodying the aspiration to deepen the partnership and brotherhood between our peoples and to build a shared future together."
President Duda said: "We must not remain silent in the face of hatred between peoples. We must not remain silent in the face of racist or ethnic hatred. If we are silent, the end result can be what happened here at the hands of the Germans during World War II—when wild hatred drove them to annihilate the Jewish people. We call it the Holocaust, but it was simply a wild urge to kill and destroy.