Around three dozen students and faculty surrounded candles and held Israeli flags outside the Washington Square Arch on Wednesday evening, as part of a vigil held by NYU Hillel to commemorate the lives of two children whose bodies were returned Thursday as part of the ceasefire deal between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. 

The group formed a circle on the south side of the arch and sang Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem, before holding a group prayer for Israeli hostages. The group then collectively raised signs that read “OUR FAMILY IS TORN” and displayed information on reportedly kidnapped Israelis, including Ariel and Kfir Bibas — the two youngest hostages known to be held by Hamas. 

“We sit in sadness with the news coming out of Israel this morning,” NYU Hillel wrote in a post on Instagram. “We are with you all as we continue to navigate this difficult moment.”  

The two children came to symbolize the war’s impact on Israel and have been the face of posters and movements condemning Hamas’ attack on Israeli towns.

At the end of the ceremony, the group released dozens of orange and yellow balloons — colors that have been used to honor the Bibas children since Oct. 7, symbolic of their red hair. Since their bodies were returned Thursday, the balloons and color scheme have become prominent among pro-Israeli organizations, including several that held vigils around New York City the same day.

Correction, Feb. 21: A previous version of this article misstated the cause of death of the two hostages. The article has been updated and WSN regrets the error.

Contact Danny Arensberg and Dharma Niles at [email protected].