A couple of hundred Capital Region residents attended a solidarity event Monday evening in Albany's West Capitol Park to support “Israel and humanity with positivity and light,” and raise awareness of the nearly 240 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.

Attendees carried Israeli flags, signs and blue balloons with posters of kidnapped individuals affixed to them. Some spoke at a microphone near the state Capitol.

"I am personally in anguish over the uncertain fate the future of Israel and our Palestinian neighbors," one speaker said. "I'm anguished over the ways that extremists in our nation, in Israel and in Gaza, are using this conflict to inflict harm on the freedom and security of others they hate."

The crowd sang songs of support and peace.