Hamas’s brutal October 7 attack left 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 kidnapped, many of whom are still held by Hamas. The rally followed a Channel 12 poll showing 71% of Israelis supported a deal to end the war in exchange for the hostages’ release, with just 15% opposing such a deal.
The mother of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander also addressed the crowd after a propaganda video of her son was released by Hamas. She described the horror of seeing her son pleading for help and called on Netanyahu to take action to secure his release.
Anti-government activist Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan has been held in Gaza for over a year, criticized Netanyahu’s refusal to negotiate a ceasefire for hostages while agreeing to one with Hezbollah in Lebanon. “How can it be that Netanyahu signs a deal for the north but prevents a deal for the south?” she asked.
The rally also saw calls for international intervention, with Yehuda Cohen, the father of another hostage, urging U.S. President-elect Donald Trump to pressure Netanyahu into making a deal. “My son Nimrod and all the hostages are crying out to us from the tunnels. They cannot survive the winter. We must save them now.”
The protests, while widespread, notably did not take place in Caesarea, Netanyahu’s coastal hometown, after it became clear that he no longer spends time there. The rally underscored growing public frustration with the government’s handling of the hostage situation, as negotiations for a broader truce in Gaza remain stalled.
As of late November, 97 hostages remain in Gaza, including the bodies of at least 34 confirmed dead. Since the ceasefire last year, Hamas has released 105 civilians, with additional hostages rescued by Israeli troops. However, the situation remains dire, with many calling for an urgent resolution before it is too late.