Tens of thousands of Israelis took part in a massive demonstration in Tel Aviv Saturday night, to mark two years since the Oct. 7 massacre at the hands of Hamas — and to put pressure on Tel Aviv to close the deal in Gaza and return all the hostages.
“We are in decisive days for a deal,” said the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents most of Israel’s hostage families, in a statement.
“This is the hour when all of Israel must stand together, and demand loudly — do everything possible to bring our brothers and sisters home.”
The statement comes after President Trump told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday to stop bombing Gaza, after Hamas agreed to key parts of the US proposal that included the release of the 48 hostages still being held in Gaza — 20 of whom are thought to still be alive.
An end to the war in Gaza seems closer now than ever before.
“We went to sleep yesterday with cautious optimism after many months of deadlock,” said Ruby Chen, on X, father of slain US captive Itay Chen, 19.
“Now it is on PM Netanyahu to show the same conviction to provide the Israeli negotiation team with a mandate to seal the deal.”
“It is a fragile situation, and we don’t want to be disappointed again,” added Viki Cohen, mother of 21-year-old hostage Nimrod Cohen. “I feel excited, hope and expectation, but also a fear that something will go wrong with the negotiation.
With a possible release of the hostage days away, Tel Aviv’s Ichilov Hospital announced Saturday it was briefing staff to prepare to take in and treat any hostages, Times of Israel reported.
“At the moment, the teams that are responsible for treating the returned are being briefed,” the hospital said.
“Ichilov stands with the families of the hostages and hopes for their immediate return.”