Demonstration on the so-called “Hostage Square” on the occasion of the 50th day since Hamas attacked Israel.
On the second day of the ceasefire between the Palestinian group and Israel, an estimated 100,000 people demonstrated in Tel Aviv to demand the release of all prisoners held by Hamas.
On Saturday, friends and family of the prisoners, as well as many supporters, gathered in fear at the so-called “Hostage Square” near the Ministry of Defense, while the release of the second group of hostages and Palestinian prisoners was delayed.
“This is certainly the largest number we have seen since this war began,” Al Jazeera’s Sara Khairat reported from Tel Aviv.
“One of the factors is yesterday’s publication [Friday]They wanted people to come together and spread a message of hope, but also to say that they will continue these rallies until all the prisoners are brought back from Gaza,” she said, adding that there was a sense of “cautious optimism.” ” among the protesters who waited hours for news of the deal.
Hamas had delayed the release of the second group of prisoners and accused Israel of violating the ceasefire, which began on Friday and is expected to last four days.
A Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman subsequently announced that “the obstacles were overcome through Qatari-Egyptian mediation” and the exchange was expected to take place on Saturday evening, when 39 Palestinians and 13 Israeli prisoners, as well as seven foreigners, would be released.
“People were much more relieved knowing that the problem had now been solved and that they would see more of it [the captives] released,” Khairat said.
The event in Tel Aviv also marked the 50th day since Hamas’s Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, which Israeli officials said left about 1,200 people dead.
Israel’s air and ground assault on Gaza has since killed more than 15,000 Palestinians, including more than 6,000 children.
On Friday, Hamas released 24 prisoners and Israel released 39 Palestinian women and children held in its prisons.
“The return of hostages is the greatest mitzvah there is,” singer Ehud Banai told the crowd from the stage, The Times of Israel newspaper reported.
“As Hanukkah approaches, we will be lighting many candles during this dark time. Our hearts will be broken until we all see them home.”
Many people at the rally wore “Bring Them Home” campaign T-shirts and held placards with the names and pictures of the prisoners.
Alon Hadar, whose grandmother Yaffa was released by Hamas on Friday, told the Israeli newspaper Haaretz: “She gives us hope that everyone will return, but we know that we have to fight for the release of everyone.”
“My grandmother wanted to come here tonight but we thought ‘too soon’ – but I’m sure she’s watching now and is proud of all of us,” Hadar said.
In recent weeks, thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets every weekend to put pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They said the government was ignoring their pleas to prioritize the return of their loved ones.
The Druze community leaders who took part in Saturday’s rally were warmly welcomed by the crowd with enthusiastic applause.
Protesters also gathered outside a private home of Netanyahu in Jerusalem, demanding his immediate removal from office.
💥In Jerusalem, angry protesters outside one of his private residences in Jerusalem are calling for Netanyahu’s immediate removal. (Reuven Gafni Shechtman) pic.twitter.com/FNbuXrVlxL
— Noga Tarnopolsky (@NTarnopolsky) November 25, 2023