Day of protests for hostages release, end to Gaza war begin

Nationwide demonstrations for the return of the hostages and the end to the Gaza war began Tuesday morning at 6:29 a.m., the start time of the Hamas massacre on October 7.

Display in Hostages Square

The protests began with a giant flag with photos of the hostages unfurled in front of US embassy building in Tel Aviv. The main Ayalon Highway was blocked during rush hour and later opened to traffic.

Dozens of protesters gathered Tuesday morning near the homes of Education Minister Yoav Kish in Hod Hasharon and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar in Ness Ziona.

Protests on roads across Israel

(Video: Amir Yerchi)

At the opening of a press statement on Tuesday morning at Hostages Square, Einav Zangauker, mother of Matan, said: “This is the 690th day that our loved ones are held hostage in Gaza, 690 days in which soldiers are sent to risk their lives and an entire nation is collapsing under the burden of the government. We could have ended the war a year ago and brought back all the hostages and soldiers. We could have saved hostages and soldiers, but the prime minister chose again and again to sacrifice citizens for the sake of his rule. Netanyahu, why are you dragging your feet?”

Statement by families of the hostages kick off the day of protests

(Photo: Motti Kimchi)

She added: “If Netanyahu cares about ending the war, let him set achievable principles for its end. But instead, he places obstacles before the negotiating team, before the mediators, and continues in a campaign to thwart the deals. We have a wonderful people but no government. Our people are fighting for the brothers and sisters who remain in captivity. We proved it last week and today we will continue to fight.”

Itzik Horn, father of Eitan, cried out: “We are facing a danger we never believed would happen. A danger from within. The government of Israel has knowingly decided on a military operation that, according to all security officials’ assessments, will lead to the death of my son Eitan, the deaths of other hostages, and of hundreds of our best fighters.” He added: “We are in the midst of yet another deliberate sabotage of an agreement to return hostages. A loss of direction that will be remembered with eternal disgrace. A government that abandons its citizens with its head held high and destroys the fundamental moral backbone of the sanctity of life and mutual responsibility.”

Hagit Chen, mother of Itay, called out: “This is a struggle to bring my son — a soldier in the Israel Defense Forces — home, and with him another 49 hostages and one female hostage, each of whom is an entire world.” She stressed: “This is an unbearably difficult struggle not only for the lives of the living hostages, but also for those who are no longer among the living, who fought to save lives on that cursed day. It is a struggle to ensure they do not vanish forever under the rubble, and that we can grant them a proper Jewish burial.”

Yotam Cohen, Nimrod Cohen’s brother, at a demonstration at Naan Junction

(Photo: Hostages and Missing Families Forum)

Blocking traffic at Ogen Junction

(Photo: Use under Section 27A of the Copyright Law)

Yehuda Cohen, father of kidnapped soldier Nimrod Cohen, called on the public to join the protest day, which will conclude with the main rally this evening at Hostages Square, saying: “The people of Israel are standing up for the hostages — against Netanyahu’s government.”

Families of the hostages called before Tuesday for the public to join them in their protest. “Stand by our side, stand by the soldiers and reservists, by the bereaved families,” they urged. “This is the time to end the war. This is the time of the hostages. Only the people will bring the hostages home.”

Crowds are expected at Hostages Square just like last week

(Photo: Dana Koppel)

At 10 a.m., organizers will stage a “Mothers and Strollers” demonstration. From 3 to 6 p.m., “giant convoys” will move through the country. At 4 p.m., an exhibition of drawings by captivity survivors will open at Hostages Square. At 5 p.m., the public will take part in a symbolic event, “Placing notes in the Cabinet,” also at Hostages Square, while additional protests will take place across Israel.

At 6:30 p.m., participants will gather at Tel Aviv’s Savidor Central train station for a mass march led by hostage families, heading to Hostages Square. The day will conclude at 8 p.m. with a mass rally at the square.

The rally at Hostages Square during the massive strike last week

(צילום: אמיר גולדשטיין)

Meanwhile, Israeli officials met Monday with a working-level Egyptian delegation in Israel. The two sides discussed coordinating the start of negotiations for a hostage release deal. The security cabinet is expected to convene Tuesday.

“Do not give up on the hostages,” the forum urged. “Israel stands in convoys, rallies and actions for the hostages.” Unlike last week, the forum emphasized, Tuesday’s events will not include strikes but will instead showcase broad public support for a deal.

The families warned of another possible obstruction of a hostage deal. “The return of more hostages is now at risk of being thwarted,” they said. “That is why we call on the people of Israel to join a massive civilian solidarity day — ‘Israel Stands Together’ — for the hostages, for the soldiers worn down under the burden, and for the tens of thousands of evacuees waiting to return home safely.”

Traffic will be stopped on highways across the country

(Photo: Amir Cohen/Reuters)

Following last week’s Day of Pause, which concluded with a massive rally at Hostages Square drawing tens of thousands of protesters, the forum said: “The people of Israel are proving that their values are saving lives and bringing back their loved ones before all else — the living to rehabilitation and the fallen to a worthy burial in their homeland.”

The forum had announced another day of protest for Sunday but later canceled it after reports of progress in negotiations. Over the weekend, however, it decided to move ahead with a large-scale protest Tuesday.

The High-Tech Forum, representing dozens of technology companies and venture capital funds, announced Monday it would back the hostages’ families and allow employees to leave work early to participate. Organizers said the move follows last week’s broad turnout, when hundreds of thousands of Israelis demonstrated.

“The people of Israel showed the world they want everyone home,” the forum said. “There is a deal on the table, and Israel refuses to enter negotiations that could bring everyone back. We cannot give up. ‘Do not stand idly by your neighbor’s blood’ is not a slogan but a supreme value. Now the government must prove it is not abandoning its sons and daughters to die in the tunnels.”

Among the companies joining are Meta, Wix, Monday.com, Fiverr, Playtika, Fireblocks, Unity, Papaya Global, Tyto Care, Forter, Natural Intelligence, RiseUp, Reason, ZIG and others. Participating venture funds include Qumra, Disruptive, NFX, Sky, TriVentures, F2 Venture Capital and more.