As Israel anxiously awaits a safe return of approximately 230 hostages held captive in the Gaza Strip, a display called Lights of Hope is now shining in Jerusalem to show solidarity and raise international awareness of their plight.

The exhibit is comprised of 224 floodlights, corresponding to the number of captives believed held by Hamas at the time of its installation. The bulbs shine next to the photos and personal information of the hostages.

The floodlights illuminate the sky in different colors for 224 seconds multiple times each evening.

The exhibit, launched by the Jerusalem Municipality, has been placed outside the Pais sports arena in the Malha neighborhood.

Each time captives are returned to Israel, organizers note, the number of light bulbs and the duration of their illumination will be adjusted according to the number of captives who have not yet returned. Since war broke out, only four captives were returned. 

“We light up the sky for the captives and their families,” Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion said of the exhibit. “We pray and hope for their swift return home.”

Since war broke out on October 7, numerous exhibits have been displayed to commemorate the 1,400 people murdered and the hundreds of people taken hostage.

In Tel Aviv, for example, families of Israelis held hostage in Gaza set up a large Shabbat dinner table with over 200 empty chairs, including baby chairs, to symbolize the absence of their loved ones, in the plaza outside the Tel Aviv Museum of Art.

Also in Tel Aviv, the municipality staged the “Flower People Project” tribute, which saw a 45-meter-long flower bouquet placed at the central Habimah Square evoking the wreaths laid on graves.