Israelis have rallied in their thousands on Saturday nights for the most of two years in the Tel Aviv plaza known as Hostages Square, demanding that all the captives still held in Gaza be brought back, “Now!”
Many were preparing to rally on Saturday night, while hoping that this one might be the last.
Under the terms of the cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas, which came into effect at noon Friday, all living hostages in Gaza should be returned to Israel within 72 hours. Israel believes that 20 of the hostages held by Hamas are still alive.
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“Our struggle is not over and will not end until the last hostage returns home!” said the Hostages Families Forum, an organization that has advocated a hostage deal and represents many of their families. It said that the central rally in Tel Aviv was set to start at 8.15 p.m local time.
“The entire nation holds its breath in anticipation” of the hostages’ return, the group added.
Organizers said they were expecting hundreds of thousands of people to crowd into Hostages Square and the surrounding streets. Rallies were also expected at other key locations around Israel, including a square in Jerusalem near the residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Crowds had been gathering in Hostages Square all day. According to Israeli media reports, Steve Witkoff, the U.S. Mideast envoy, and Jared Kushner, President Trump’s son-in-law, who both helped negotiate the cease-fire deal, were expected to visit the square on Saturday.
As part of the deal, the remains of hostages who died while being held captive in Gaza would also be released. But it will likely take longer for the deceased hostages to be located and returned to Israel, according to the Israeli authorities.
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The post Israelis to Rally for Hostages in Gaza, Hoping It Will Be the Last Time appeared first on New York Times.
