Prior to the marquee matchup of round 6 of the Winner League between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Maccabi Haifa, the lights at Bloomfield Stadium were switched off for an emotional ceremony marking the second anniversary of Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

As has been the practice at Bloomfield since that tragic day, empty chairs were placed on the field for the hostages who still remain in Gaza and who are Maccabi fans, namely Gali Berman, Ziv Berman, Omri Miran, Tamir Adar z”l [of blessed memory] and Yossi Sharabi z”l [of blessed memory].

Danny Miran, father of Omri Miran, spoke emotional words to the crowd of 25,101:

Dear crowd, I am Danny Miran, the father of Omri Miranwho has been held captive by Hamas for 730 days — 730 days of pain, of uncertainty, of endless waiting. As I tell myself every day: I don’t hang my hopes — I simply wait, day after day*

Tonight, we mark two years since October 7th and the outbreak of the Iron Swords War — two years of pain and infinite longing, but also of stubborn hope that will never be extinguished. The five beams of light crossing the skies above Bloomfield Stadium are a call from all of us for the return of every hostage — Gali Berman, Ziv Berman, Omri Miran, Tamir Adar z”l and Yossi Sharabi z”l.

Photo credit: Yehuda Halickman

We salute the soldiers of the IDF who are fighting on the front lines, embrace the wounded and honor the memory of the fallen. From here, at Bloomfield, we pledge not to forget, not to give up, not to rest — and to keep raising our voices until every man and woman returns home.

Tonight, with one heart and one voice — yellows and greens alike — we are united in the hope of seeing them all home now. Together we are strong — Am Yisrael Chai [the Nation of Israel lives]!