Photo: Carl Stevens/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — An immersive exhibit designed to bring attention to the plight of those held hostage in Gaza opened at Boston City Hall Plaza Sunday.
Hamas kidnapped roughly 250 people and killed about 1,200 others during the deadly attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which triggered the Israel-Hamas war. More than ten months later, over 100 of the hostages remain captive.
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The exhibit, designed by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in consultation with freed hostages, uses a shipping container to simulate the conditions of the tunnels where the remaining hostages are being held. As visitors walk inside, they hear audio from the Oct. 7 attack and see video from the actual tunnels.
Boston is the third city to feature the exhibit. Earlier this year, it appeared before the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland and the National Mall in Washington D.C.
1 of 3 Photo: Carl Stevens/WBZ NewsRadio
2 of 3 Photo: Carl Stevens/WBZ NewsRadio
3 of 3 Photo: Carl Stevens/WBZ NewsRadio
"This exhibit is a powerful, immersive experience, designed to bring us face to face with the horrifying reality that 115 people, including eight Americans, have been experiencing every day," said Dr. Aylit Schultz, one of the local organizers of the exhibit. "It’s a harrowing glimpse into their experience, into the experience of those held captive, and a stark reminder of the urgency to unite in the call for their freedom."
One of the American hostages is 22-year-old Omer Neutra. His cousin, Tova Katz, of Brookline, attended Sunday's opening ceremony.
"We have American citizens who have been held hostage in Gaza for over ten months, and we need to be doing everything we can to raise awareness to bring them home," Katz told WBZ NewsRadio.
The exhibit is on display through Tuesday. Admission is free, but visitors must register, sign a waiver, and be 18 years or older to enter. For security reasons, backpacks and personal items are not allowed into the exhibit area.
WBZ NewsRadio's Carl Stevens (@CarlWBZ) reports.
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