'No more excuses!' Israeli protesters say Sinwar's death leaves no reason to delay hostage deal

Thousands of protesters gathered in various locations across Israel on Saturday night, demanding that the government strike a deal to bring the hostages home in the wake of the death of Hamas top chief Yahya Sinwar last Wednesday. There is growing optimism that the new circumstances could provide the necessary leverage to secure a long-anticipated deal that would secure the release of the remaining 101 hostages in Gaza.

Some protesters gathered outside of Israeli President Isaac Herzog’s home in Tel Aviv and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s home in Caesarea, urging the Israeli leaders to take action immediately while there is an opportunity to negotiate.

In a joint statement outside the Israeli Defense Ministry, the families of hostages and others said, "The goal of the war – creating conditions for the return of hostages – has been achieved; now we must secure a deal to bring everyone home."

Meirav Tal, one of the hostages who was released in the November 2023 deal, said, "I was there for 53 days, during which the terrorists took everything from me: control over my body, my will, what I do and don't do, when I speak and when I don't, when I eat, drink, sleep, and shower, when I sit, lie down, or stand – only my thoughts remained free... I have no other words to describe what the hostages are going through now except hell." 

Tal's partner, Yair Yaakov, was murdered by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7 and his body was abducted into Gaza, where it has remained for more than one year.

"Now, after the IDF eliminated the psychopath Sinwar, there's a glimmer of light. This is the time to act with all our might to bring all the hostages home," she added.

Einav Zangauker, the mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, has been one of the more prominent voices among the protesters. Outside of the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv, she told the press: “The war aim of creating conditions for returning the hostages has been obtained,” adding, “Only a deal will bring back everyone. After the elimination of Hamas and its leadership, what else is there to do in Gaza?”

Einav and other anti-government protesters believe Netanyahu’s reluctance to drop controversial coalition members, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, has stymied a hostage deal.

Ben Gvir and Smotrich will not agree to any deal that requires Israel to stop fighting in Gaza, but their exit from the coalition would lead to its collapse.

“The time has come to stop fearing Ben Gvir and Smotrich,” she said, saying that now Hamas leadership has been eliminated and their ability to fire rockets ended, “the excuses are over.”

Multiple women came to the protests dressed in gray sweatpants and a black shirt, which was worn by hostage Naama Levy, as seen in one video from the Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023. The protesters had their hands bound behind their backs and covered in red paint, a symbolic reminder of the plight of the hostages.

Other protesters in Tel Aviv held banners with the words: “You got your revenge! Now bring consolation!”