Hostage Families Organize One of the Biggest Demonstrations So Far
Tel Aviv streets became an ocean of yellow flags, banners, and slogans on Sunday as tens of thousands marched to call for the release of Israeli hostages and a stop to the Gaza war. The crowd, holding pictures of captives and beating drums, reached Hostage Square in one of the biggest demonstrations since war broke out almost two years ago.
We want to make it clear to the Israeli government that this can be the last opportunity to rescue the remaining hostages detained in Hamas tunnels,” declared Ofir Penso, a 50-year-old teacher of Arabic. Dozens of protesters placed the number 681 on their shirts, denoting the number of days since the October 2023 Hamas attacks when the hostages were captured.
Of 251 hostages taken on that day, the Israeli government reports 49 are still in Gaza, with at least 27 confirmed dead. Recent video showing apparently weak and white-looking captives has fueled public concerns that their health is deteriorating dramatically.
Government Criticism Meets Public Outcry
The escalation of demonstrations follows barely a week since Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared a new campaign to capture Gaza City and adjacent camps. The action, designed to destroy Hamas, has attracted global condemnation as relief agencies report famine spreading in the embattled region.
Hostage families say escalation by the military puts only their loved ones at risk. “The government has never made a sincere proposal for a complete agreement to end this war,” stated Einav Tzangauker, whose son is still being held captive. “We are calling for a real agreement. We want our children home.
President Isaac Herzog, visiting Hostage Square, echoed calls for global leaders to pressure Hamas. “I want to tell the world: stop the hypocrisy!” he said.
Yet the demonstrations drew sharp condemnation from Netanyahu’s government. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich branded the protests “a harmful campaign that plays into Hamas’ hands,” while Netanyahu himself warned that ending the war prematurely would only embolden Hamas and risk future attacks.
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Frustration Beyond the Hostage Crisis
For others, the demonstrations were not just about hostages, but also about the cost of the 22-month war on Israeli society. Nick, a 31-year-old IT professional, expressed a mood that resonated among many in the crowd: “The country is fighting among itself, our international image is at an all-time low, and enough is enough.”
Some were concerned about their children who work in the army. “I came here as a mother of two sons who serve in the army. I am afraid for them and wish the government would hear our voice,” stated Ella Kaufman of Kadima Zoran.
Nonetheless, there are still some Israelis standing behind Netanyahu’s approach. Patrick Menache, who is 69 years old and an investor in property, stated he would not participate in the demonstrations. “I feel Bibi needs to complete the war. But yes, everybody is exhausted the hostages, the relatives, the soldiers, even the Palestinians.
As the chants resonated along Tel Aviv’s glass-covered boulevards, the collision of voices echoed a nation suspended between mourning, rage, and depletion. The demonstrations might have been one of the biggest so far, but the fissures between Israel are as distinct as ever.
