Once again, thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday, demanding a ceasefire agreement that could lead to the release of dozens of hostages held in Gaza. The city has seen regular demonstrations since the war, sparked by Hamas’s 7 October attack, with the public becoming increasingly critical of the government after the military revealed earlier this month that the bodies of six captives were recovered from a tunnel in southern Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has faced growing accusations of delaying truce negotiations and prolonging the conflict to satisfy far-right factions within his coalition. Netanyahu claimed that Hamas militants had executed the six hostages by shooting them in the back of the head. He also criticised Hamas leaders for rejecting potential truce terms and a deal for hostage release.
Meanwhile, domestic pressure mounts on the prime minister to make compromises and secure the return of the 97 individuals still held in Gaza, including 33 believed to be dead according to military sources.
Relatives of the captives also addressed the crowd. Eli Elbag, father of hostage Liri Elbag, shared an emotional message: “It’s been a year since I last kissed you, a year since I last laughed with you.” He pledged to continue fighting for the return of all hostages.
This weekend’s protest comes amid escalating cross-border clashes between Israel and Hezbollah, a Lebanese group allied with Hamas. Shahar Mor, nephew of slain hostage Avraham Munder, voiced concerns that the conflict with Hezbollah could divert attention from the hostage crisis.
The Hamas-led attack on 7 October left 1,205 people dead on the Israeli side, primarily civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures, which include hostages who died in captivity. On that day, Palestinian militants captured 251 hostages, with some released during a brief truce in November.
Israel’s military response to the assault has resulted in the deaths of at least 41,391 people in Gaza, most of them civilians, according to the Palestine health ministry, figures which the UN considers credible.