Hundreds of people gathered Saturday in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square and, a block away, on Begin Street to demand the return of the Gaza hostages.
The gathering on Place des Otages was dedicated to children in captivity, before International Children’s Day which will take place this Wednesday. There are currently two child hostages: Ariel Bibas, 5 years old, and Kfir Bibas, 1 year old. Their aunt, Ofri Bibas, is one of tonight’s speakers.
On Begin Street, outside the Kirya Army headquarters, protesters demanded an end to the war against the Palestinian terror group Hamas as part of a hostage deal. They lit smoke bombs and banged drums, chanting: “They [les otages] are running out of time – a deal is on the table! »
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The gathering on Begin is not affiliated with the Forum of Families of Hostages and Disappeared and is attended by families of captives who are more openly critical of the government.
Before the rally, these families made a statement, imploring newly elected United States President Donald Trump to help bring back their loved ones.
Toward the end of the statement, a man wearing a T-shirt reading “Lions of the Right” played music from a loudspeaker and shoved Natalie Zangauker, the sister of hostage Matan Zangauker, according to images shared by a journalist from Haaretz. It is unclear whether the man was apprehended.
Einav Zangauker, Matan’s mother, called on President Trump to immediately get involved in efforts to free Israeli captives held in Gaza.
« [Le Premier ministre Benjamin] Netanyahu refuses to end the war,” Einav said at the weekly rally in front of the Kirya.
“Do everything to end the war and bring back the hostages. They won’t survive until your inauguration in January. »
“Let me tell you about my children and their rights,” said Bat Sheva Yahalomi, the wife of French-Israeli hostage Ohad Yahalomi and the mother of former captive Eitan Yahalomi. The two hostages were kidnapped from their home on Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7, 2023.
The Yahalomi family from Kibbutz Nir Oz: father Ohad, daughter Yaël, son Eitan and mother Batsheva. Ohad and Eitan were taken captive separately to Gaza on October 7, 2023 by Hamas terrorists. Eitan was released on November 27, 2023. (Courtesy)
Eitan, 12, was “held alone for 16 days, surrounded by armed terrorists, who told him that the State of Israel and Nir Oz no longer existed,” said the young boy’s mother.
She added that since Eitan was released after 52 days in captivity, he has suffered from nightmares and alopecia – or hair loss.
“We will recover from this, but it cannot [totalement] only happen when her father and the other hostages return,” she added.
“The last image that Eitan and his two sisters have of their father is of him lying on the ground, injured and bleeding, after he leaves the mamad [l’abri anti-atomique] to protect them,” continued Bat Sheva.
“What about their right to have a father? What about their right to simply be children, their father’s children? »
Alon Nimrodi, father of captive soldier Tamir Nimrodi – who emphasizes being “proud of Tamir, not proud of the new title” – said he had difficulty with the line from Hatikvah, the Israeli national anthem: “to be a free nation on our Earth.
“We are not a free nation in our country,” he said.
“101 hostages are there, in the abyss – in what way are we free, in
quoi ? »
Tamir Nimrodi was taken hostage by Hamas terrorists on October 7, 2023, at his military base near the Erez crossing point. (Credit: Courtesy)
He said this week the family marked Tamir’s 20th birthday – his second in captivity – by providing care packages to the needy, the homeless, at-risk youth and wounded soldiers.
Alon stressed that such charity was in line with his son’s values.
“These values are absent among our decision-makers,” said the father.
“They abandoned the hostages. »
Avital Dekel-Chen, wife of hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen, and Meital Weiss, daughter of hostage Ilan Weiss, also spoke at the rally.
