They are stuck to lampposts and traffic lights on Einsteinstrasse in Munich or to the back of the “silent sellers” for newspapers. Just over ten A4 pages, wrapped in foil and secured with masking tape. The word “Kidnapped” is emblazoned on all pages in white capital letters on a thick red bar. Below you can see photos of different people: an older couple, leaning relaxed against each other, Gad Haggai, 73 years old, and Judith Lynne Weinstein, 80 years old; a boy with short red hair, Ariel, 4 years old, or a woman with a straw hat, Moran Stella Yanai, 40 years old.
According to the latest information from the Israeli military, there are four of 199 people who were abducted by Hamas from Israel to the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023. A worldwide poster campaign aims to draw attention to her fate – and she has also found her way to Munich.
1,400 Israelis have died since terrorists began their attack on the country. But it’s not just the dead that cause pain and horror. There is also great concern for the people who were kidnapped by Palestinian terrorists on the day of the attack. Relatives and friends of those abducted have tirelessly spoken out publicly to make it clear that whatever action the Israeli military takes against Hamas, the lives of the Israeli hostages should not be put at risk.
New York artists Nitzan Mintz, Dede Bandaid and Tal Huber also launched the poster campaign last week. The artists now give a face to more than a hundred people with their action: women, men, young people and children. The youngest kidnap victim is a nine-month-old baby, the oldest is an 85-year-old woman. Consent for publication was obtained from each of the affected families, according to Nitzan Mintz’s Instagram account.
The Hamas terrorists even kidnapped a baby: Kfir, who was just nine months old.
(Photo: Stephan Rumpf)
A poster was also put up at the memorial to the victims of Hamas on Munich’s Sankt-Jakobs-Platz last Thursday – which was meant for all the missing people.
(Photo: Stephan Rumpf)
In Munich, the poster was already visible in a slightly modified version of the text at the memorial service for the victims of the Hamas attack on Sankt-Jakobs-Platz on Thursday. It can also be found in other places in the city. The New York artist group is appealing to everyone to take part in the campaign and to print out the posters – large or small, black and white or color – and hang them up in public. You are on the website kidnappedfromisrael.com available in 15 languages.