The Hostages and Missing Families Forum announced plans for a nationwide “day of struggle” on Tuesday, urging the government to secure a deal for the release of their loved ones held in Gaza, The Times of Israel reported.
Call for Unity and Responsibility
In its statement, the forum stressed, “An absolute majority of the Israeli people want to bring our loved ones home.” It added that the delay in reaching a deal contradicted the nation’s core values of responsibility and solidarity, calling it “the Israeli ethos — this is our duty.”
Timeline of Protests
The “day of struggle” will unfold through a series of symbolic and large-scale events across Israel. It will begin at 6:29 am (local time), the exact moment Hamas launched its October 7 assault, when demonstrators will raise Israeli flags outside the US Embassy in Tel Aviv before moving to major junctions across the country. At 10 am, families, mothers, and children with strollers are expected to gather at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, sending a message of unity and innocence in their demand for the safe return of captives. Later in the afternoon, at 2 pm, coordinated marches will take place nationwide, drawing broad participation from civil society groups. This will be followed by an emotional exhibition showcasing drawings created by former hostages, reflecting both their trauma and hope. By 5 pm, protesters will return to Hostages Square, where they plan to write personal notes addressed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the IDF chief of staff, urging swift action. The day is set to culminate in the evening with a mass march from Savidor Train Station in Tel Aviv to Hostages Square, where a final demonstration will bring together thousands of participants, reinforcing the nationwide call for a hostage-release deal.
Previous Mass Protests
Just last Sunday, hundreds of thousands of Israelis participated in mass rallies demanding an end to the war and a hostage-release deal. The demonstrations coincided with a large-scale strike that included universities, businesses, tech companies, and local authorities. However, Israel’s central labor union, Histadrut, did not join the strike.
Also Read: Netanyahu Calls Gaza Hospital Strike a ‘Mishap’ After 4 Journalists Killed
Hostages Still in Captivity
According to Israeli officials, 50 hostages remain in Gaza 49 of the 251 abducted on October 7, along with the body of a soldier killed in 2014. Authorities have confirmed that 28 of them are dead, while 20 are believed to be alive. Serious concerns remain about the condition of two others.
Background: The October 7 Attack
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a surprise cross-border assault on Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking more than 250 hostages back to Gaza. The attack triggered the ongoing war, with Israel vowing to dismantle Hamas’s military infrastructure. While some hostages were freed during short ceasefire deals, many remain captive, fueling nationwide anger and grief as families continue to press the government for urgent action.
