Families of hostages gathered on Saturday night at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, demanding the return of their loved ones and urging the public to join the upcoming "National Day of Action" on Tuesday.
During the rally, participants lit a bonfire on Begin Road in Tel Aviv, calling for the implementation of the deal agreed upon with Hamas.
Police arrested a 67-year-old man from Ramat Gan on suspicion of assaulting a woman who had joined the protest. According to the woman, she was attacked by two men after asking them to remove a sign they were holding.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum announced that demonstrations will continue on Sunday at intersections and squares across the country, from the north to the south.
On Tuesday, the Forum declared a "National Day of Action," with protest and solidarity events planned nationwide. The day will conclude with a march and central rally at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv.
Roni Adar, sister of hostage Tamir Adar, spoke at Saturday night’s rally and said, “Tamir was my hero when I was a child, and he was the hero of all of us on the morning of October 7th when he was the first to leave the house. Since that morning, I have been counting for 687 days, and I admit that I am tired of counting. In what world should a younger sister spend almost two years begging for the chance to stand at the grave of her older brother?”
“Tamir must come home. Not because he was a hero, not because he was the first to fight, and not because they fought alone against the whole world. Simply because he is, above all, a human being. A man who loved life and loved living. Who loved Israel - both its land and its people. Because he only wanted to live here in peace, but now, when that dream has been shattered for him, he deserves to be buried here with dignity, so that all of us can continue to dream it for ourselves. Tamir, I love you and I will never give up on you," she added.
Hagai Angrest, father of hostage Matan Angrest, said, “687 days our Matan has been in captivity. Holidays, birthdays, summers, vacations, home, family, dreams for the future, love - all of these are imprisoned with him beneath the ground in Gaza.”
“By a miracle, Matan survived the massacre, and since then he has been condemned to survive, wounded in body and soul, for nearly two years,” he added.
“Matan, my beloved child, forgive me that we have not yet managed to bring you home. If I could, I would dig with my bare fingers a tunnel all the way to Gaza to reach you. Our hero, do not give up, do not let them take away who you are. There is no wall, no border, no enemy, and no leadership that will make us give up on you. A father’s word.”