Rallies around Israel call on government to do more for hostages

Several rallies across Israel that took place called on the Israeli government to immediately secure the release of the remaining hostages in Gaza. 

The rallies, organized by the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, took place simultaneously in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Caesarea on Saturday evening. 

Families of hostages spoke at the rallies, calling on the government to negotiate a deal with Hamas to bring home the hostages before they die. 

At the rally at Caesarea, outside the home of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, families of hostages gathered to call on the premier to do whatever is necessary to bring back the hostages. 

The families set up empty chairs with pictures of some of the hostages next to the barricade of Netanyahu's home, while others held posters with images of their loved ones being held captive by terrorists in Gaza since Oct. 7.

A large table was set up with posters representing the hostages. Shira Albag, whose 18-year-old daughter Liri is being held hostage in Gaza told the crowds: “I wake up alive and I go to sleep feeling dead.” 

Video footage of Liri was recently released by Hamas, along with several other hostages.

“It took me a while to recognize her, to understand that that girl in the blue sweatshirt is my daughter,” Albag said.

Former ostage Chen Goldstein-Almog, who was abducted into Gaza from Kfar Aza on Oct. 7, and returned in the hostage deal in late November, said: “I keep asking myself whether we’re doing enough to bring them back.” 

She said she is especially worried about the 14 female hostages which remain in captivity. 

Avi Lulu Shamriz, the father of Alon Shamriz, who was mistakenly killed by IDF troops in Gaza, told AFP, “The way we’re going, all the hostages are going to die. It’s not too late to free them,” he said.

On Saturday evening, IDF Spokesman Brig.-Gen. Daniel Hagari reported that Israeli soldiers found a tunnel in Khan Younis where some of the hostages had been kept. 

There is a growing concern in Israeli society that the two stated goals of the government, to defeat Hamas and to return the hostages are mutually exclusive. 

War Cabinet member Gadi Eisenkot, whose son Gal was killed serving in Gaza, recently said that the captives would “only return alive if there is a deal, linked to a significant pause in fighting.” 

Recent attempts to negotiate another hostage release deal have not born fruit. Hamas is reportedly demanding a total ceasefire and withdrawal of all Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip, as well as international guarantees that it will remain part of the government of Gaza. 

Israel is reportedly unwilling to withdraw its troops and will only agree to a temporary ceasefire. Netanyahu has repeatedly stated that Israel will not stop until it has eliminated Hamas and returned the captives, promising “complete victory.” 

There were also separate rallies in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, not affiliated with the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, calling for Netanyahu to resign from his role and for new elections.