Thousands of Israelis demand hostage release, even if it means stopping Gaza war

JERUSALEM/ISTANBUL

Thousands of Israelis protested Saturday to demand the government reach a deal with Hamas to release hostages in the Gaza Strip, even if it means halting the war.

Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that demonstrators gathered in Habima Square in central Tel Aviv to demand the return of hostages held by the Palestinian resistance group. Protesters also criticized the government's handling of the crisis.

Similar demonstrations took place in other locations, including Karkur Junction near Haifa in the north and Rehovot in central Israel, the newspaper reported.

The protests came after Hamas' military wing, Al-Qassam Brigades, released a video showing two Israeli hostages -- one of whom is ill.

“The Israeli government is preparing to expand the military operation in Gaza, which could endanger the lives of the hostages,” a relative of one hostage said at a news conference broadcast by the Israeli Public Broadcasting Authority. “These are clearly illegal orders under military law and should not be followed.”

“We cannot allow the government to launch another operation that will cost more soldiers' lives, more injuries, and more hostages killed. And for what? Just so Netanyahu can stay in power,” he said.

Another relative said the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is headed toward “political, security, and moral collapse.”

In the video by Al-Qassam that was posted on Telegram, one hostage says: “I am prisoner number 21, and the man sleeping next to me is number 22. I don’t want to talk about myself, but about his condition -- he’s in a very severe physical and psychological state.”

“When we heard that the war has gone on for so many months, we realized how much danger we’re in. Since then, my companion hasn’t stopped harming himself,” he said. “We’ve lost our world and our hope. A few days ago, he tried to hurt himself again. I intervened along with a Qassam fighter to stop him. As a result, he tried to hurt us too,” he said, describing the prisoners’ condition as “critical.”

He noted that prisoner number 22 "refuses to eat or drink, even though what we have is already very limited in this horrific reality."

He asked: “What are you waiting for? For the IV fluids to run out? I can’t imagine what will happen if he’s left alone, so I’ve stopped eating too.”

Addressing Israeli Air Force pilots who signed petitions calling for a hostage deal, he said: “I’m proud of you for refusing to fly and endanger our lives.”

“And to those still flying and bombing us and the civilians -- what do you say to our families?”

He sent a direct message to the Israeli public: “Some of the hostages are still alive. If you want to know how many, ask Sara Netanyahu, she knows what you don’t.”

To the prime minister’s wife, he added: “Say the number you want, so we can return home -- less than 20 or more?”

He concluded: “How is this war still ongoing? Every drop of blood you see is a witness. Your hands are stained with this blood, decision-makers. Enough! The time has come to end this war. Time is running out.”

The Israeli army renewed its assault on Gaza on March 18, shattering a Jan. 19 ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.

More than 52,800 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in a brutal Israeli onslaught since October 2023, most of them women and children.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.