Dame Maureen Lipman and Major Personalities Launch Lovelock Hostage Bridge to Support Israeli Hostages
Launches Sunday 11th February 11.30am at JW3 London
Lovelock Hostage Bridge has been created to show love and solidarity for the plight of the remaining hostages held by Hamas and as a call on the international community to revamp their efforts to bring them back home.
Dame Maureen Lipman, doyenne of stage and screen, is officially opening the ‘Lovelock Hostage Bridge’ alongside the daughter of one of the hostages kidnapped on 7th October and a line-up of well-known personalities.
Appearing at the launch alongside Dame Maureen will be a host of celebrities and high-profile personalities, including Sir Simon Schama; Sir Martin Sorrell; Howard Jacobson; Simon Sebag Montefiore, Luciana Berger, Dame Margaret Hodge and Steven Berkoff at JW3, 341-351 Finchley Rd, London NW3 6ET at 11.30 am (please arrive at 11.15).
There are already over 100 padlocks carrying hostage names attached to the Bridge, including padlocks signed by public figures such as Rachel Riley, Tracy Ann Oberman, Vanessa Feltz, Alistair Campbell, Mick Hucknell – Uri Geller has signed a bent padlock.
This stunning new installation will be populated by thousands of autographed padlocks.
This week marks over 120 days since 240 innocent people, aged between one and 85 years, were taken captive by Hamas during the horrific events of October 7th, 2023.
With 136 of the hostages still unaccounted for, the ‘The Lovelock Hostage Bridge’ is visually reminiscent of the lovelock bridges around the world where lovers attach a padlock to a bridge to symbolize their love and deep-rooted connection.
Dame Maureen Lipman said: “We are powerless to help them directly but the locks on our bridge are powerful symbols of our empathy. Somehow, they will know that their suffering is our suffering. We will not let the world forget or belittle their plight and move on to the next tasty soundbite.”
Raymond Simonson, Chief Executive of JW3, said: “The lack of international pressure to ensure the liberation of the hostages is a grave worry, highlighting the need for global efforts to address humanitarian crises of this nature. The Lovelock Hostage Bridge is a symbol of compassion for the hostages and families that have been suffering and a reminder they have not been forgotten.”
Marcel Knobil Founder of the Lovelock Hostage Bridge said: “I conceived Lovelock Hostage Bridge in the hope that thousands of people throughout the world would be able to show their love and solidarity for the hostages and participate in creating an ever-growing manifestation of support. I’m grateful that numerous prestigious individuals are already displaying their attachment to this urgent cause.”
Members of the public are encouraged to visit Lovelock Hostage Bridge from 2.30 pm on Sunday, February 11th, and then any day from 10 am – 10 pm (except Fridays and Saturdays). You can bring your own padlock to attach or pick up a free padlock at the JW3 reception. A donation to The Hostage & Missing Families Forum will be welcomed.
ENDS