Israelis took to the streets Tuesday evening to make their voices heard regarding the new “truce for hostage release” agreement being negotiated with the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. Thousands of them rallied to support him, while hundreds more denounced him, saying he created grave dangers for the future.
This week, many officials said a deal to end 15 months of war was close to being reached. Thirty-three hostages are expected to be released in the first 42-day phase, in exchange for a partial Israeli withdrawal and the release of several hundred Palestinian security prisoners, including more than 150 terrorists serving long prison sentences. imprisonment for murdering Israelis.
The three-phase deal is expected to free the 98 hostages, end the war and rebuild the Gaza Strip by putting in place security mechanisms for Israel.
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While Israel appears to approve the mediators’ draft final agreement, thousands of hostage activists gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square on Tuesday evening, eagerly awaiting Hamas’ response.
The square regularly hosts, on Tuesdays, a gathering of prayers and songs entitled “Singing for their return”, in which Israeli musicians participate and which generally attracts a few dozen people.
This week, the crowds were significantly larger than previous Tuesdays. Renowned artists performed and former hostage Moran Stela Yanaï as well as the father of the current hostage Yarden Bibas and other members of his family participated in the event.
Singers Omer Adam (R) and Aviv Geffen perform during a rally calling for the release of hostages held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, January 14, 2025. (Credit : Avshalom Sassoni/Flash90)
The aunt of murdered hostage Omer Neutra asked the audience to recite the Jewish prayer “Shema Yisrael” together, with a resounding “Amen” at the end. She said she was sending strength to negotiators, hoping they would bring all remaining hostages home.
Soul singer Evyatar Banai then performed his 1997 song “I’ve got a chance,” emphasizing the line: “I have a chance to be saved.”
Popular singers Aviv Geffen – associated with the left – and Omer Adam – associated with the right – performed together.
“Omer and I are here tonight to say that there are no differences between us, no religious or secular Israelis, no Ashkenazim or Sephardim, there is only the nation of Israel , the Jewish nation, which prays for the hostages to return home. That’s our prayer,” Geffen said.
Yanaï, who survived captivity, described her release under the November 2023 truce agreement, 54 days after she was kidnapped from the Nova music festival, in the Reïm region, during the assault on Hamas on October 7.
“On the 49th day, after weeks of darkness, they made me wear a suit. There were two girls with me,” she said.
“They took us to the exchange point, where Hamas handed over the hostages to the Red Cross. »
“Right there, one step away from freedom, they took me back,” she continued.
Freed hostage Moran Stela Yanai speaking at a rally calling for the release of hostages held by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, January 14, 2025. (Avshalom Sassoni /Flash90)
“The two girls continued, and I was left behind… in hell. »
“That night was the longest of my life,” she said.
“I imagined them touching the outside world, eating good fruit, drinking cold water, doing whatever they wanted. It was my light in the darkness. »
“But what hope can a person have after 466 days? ”, she asked.
“I saw the horror, the fear, and I understood something simple: no one should be dragged into darkness a moment before the light. »
“None of them can stay there. It is not a question of strategy or ideology. It’s a question of humanity and every single one of them must come back, down to the last hostage,” she said.
She also spoke in English, calling on the international community to help bring the hostages home.
“It’s about our children, our parents, our brothers and sisters, people who have dreams, hopes and loved ones who eagerly await their return,” she said.
Demonstrators blocking the entrance to Jerusalem, during a protest against the proposed hostage deal with Hamas, January 14, 2025. (Chaïm Goldberg/Flash90)
“Prove that compassion can overcome despair. »
Meanwhile, in Jerusalem, hundreds of right-wing demonstrators marched to the prime minister’s office. They then blocked several major intersections, in opposition to the proposed hostage deal that is currently on the table.
The “emergency protest” was organized by the Gvura (Heroism) Forum, a right-wing group made up of families of slain soldiers, in the wake of talks between Israel and Hamas, which are progressing rapidly.
The families and their supporters urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reverse course and continue the ongoing military offensive.
“We ask the prime minister not to give in to this deal…a deal that will free thousands of terrorists with blood on their hands,” an organizer said via megaphone.
“We will not forget, we will not forgive. You do not have a mandate to go to Hamas. »
The families led the march alongside MP Amit Halevi (Likud).
“We are marching to give our Prime Minister the strength to succeed,” said one of the organizers.
Before the procession set off for the prime minister’s office, Rabbi Shlomo Yosef Weitzen, a grieving father from the West Bank settlement of Psagot, recalled the eulogy he delivered for his fallen son. in combat on October 7.
“Four days after Simchat Torah, we had the privilege of burying Amichai in the forest of the martyrs on Mount Herzl, and at Amichai’s grave I said ‘we take it upon ourselves not to enter into negotiations with the terrorists,’” he said.
He then described Israel’s current war against Hamas as a “struggle between good and evil.”
“When you have an enemy who harms you, you besiege him. You don’t have to do anything other than that. Then maybe the enemy will understand, get on their knees and beg us to return our hostages,” he said to loud applause.
A right-wing protester holds a sign reading: “You do not have the mandate to surrender to Hamas” during a demonstration against the hostage deal, in Jerusalem, January 14, 2025. ( Credit: Charlie Summers/Times of Israel)
Near the prime minister’s office, family members of the slain soldiers spoke to the crowd. Amitai, the brother of slain soldier Elkanah Wiesel, spoke to Netanyahu.
“I remember, as if it were yesterday, one of your first [conférences de presse] at the start of the war. You called this war a war between the children of light and the children of darkness,” he recalled.
“I ask you today, Mr. Prime Minister, what happened to the children of light and the children of darkness. Has anything changed for you to begin speaking with the children of darkness? »
Later in the evening, hundreds of demonstrators blocked an intersection in downtown Jerusalem to protest the ongoing negotiations. Traffic was temporarily blocked in both directions, before police cleared the road without much difficulty.
“A released terrorist will be the murderer of tomorrow,” chanted the demonstrators, some of whom were sitting on the sidewalk. Most of the participants are from Israel’s religious Zionist community, with the men wearing kippot and women headgear.
