Thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday, demanding the release of 96 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza. The protest comes amid cautious optimism about a potential ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal following over 14 months of conflict.
Prominent Israeli actor Lior Ashkenazi addressed the crowd, acknowledging the failure to secure the hostages thus far. "We all can agree that we have failed until now and that we can reach an agreement now," Ashkenazi said.
Itzik Horn, whose sons Eitan and Iair remain captives, urged immediate action. "End the war. The time has arrived to bring everyone home," he stated.
Recent developments suggest progress in negotiations. Qatar, a key mediator, described "new momentum" in talks last week. During his visit to Jordan, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized, "This is the moment to conclude that agreement finally."
Meanwhile, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi hosted U.S. officials to discuss a ceasefire and prisoner exchange.
The Human Toll
The war, which began after Hamas’s October 2023 attack, has inflicted devastating losses. Israeli officials report 1,208 casualties from the attack, while Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, supported by U.N. assessments, estimates at least 44,930 deaths due to Israeli retaliatory strikes, the majority being civilians.
The protest reflects growing public pressure on Israeli leadership to expedite negotiations and bring an end to the prolonged crisis.
