In a powerful display of emotion and frustration, thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem this weekend, demanding action for the release of hostages held in Gaza.
The demonstrations began as organized events but quickly spilled over into spontaneous acts of civil disobedience. In Jerusalem, hundreds of protesters blocked a major junction, resulting in at least one arrest.
The protests, led by families of those still captive, took aim directly at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government. "Stop sabotaging our chances!" cried out Rachel Cohen, mother of a 23-year-old hostage, her voice breaking as she addressed the crowd in Tel Aviv. "Every day that passes is another day of unimaginable suffering for our loved ones."
Former hostages joined the protesters in Tel Aviv, sharing their harrowing experiences and pleading for the return of those still held captive in Gaza.
Gabriela Leimberg, freed in November with her 17-year-old daughter Mia and their dog Bella, delivered a stark message to the government: "Don't anybody dare to kid themselves that there is any way other than a deal to get them back." Her words, charged with the weight of personal experience, silenced the crowd.
The rally, organized by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, reached its emotional peak when Yocheved Lifshitz, an 85-year-old survivor of both the Holocaust and Hamas captivity, took the stage.
Perhaps the most stirring moment came from Andrey Kozlov, recently rescued after 246 harrowing days in captivity. His voice trembling with emotion, Kozlov addressed Prime Minister Netanyahu directly:
"I may look fine on the outside, but the pain weighs on me more than anyone can see or imagine," he revealed, "Every day in Gaza was living hell, every day felt like it would be the last one ... But watching all of you at Hostages Square was what gave me the strength to survive."
Despite his ordeal, Kozlov expressed gratitude for his rescue and made a powerful appeal, "Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, thank you for bringing me back home. Now, as your brother did, please bring back the rest of the hostages," Kozlov implored, invoking the memory of Yoni Netanyahu's heroic rescue mission in Entebbe.
The palpable anger in the air was fueled by recent news of an assassination attempt on Hamas commander Mohammed Deif.
"We're terrified this attack will destroy any hope of a deal," said David Levy, whose sister has been held hostage for months. "Netanyahu seems more interested in military victories than bringing our families home."
"We won't be silent," vowed Sarah Goldstein, organizer of the Tel Aviv rally. "Our government needs to understand – these are not just statistics, these are our children, our partners, our parents. We demand action, and we demand it now."
The protests come at a critical juncture in negotiations, with Egyptian mediators recently declaring a freeze in talks due to perceived lack of seriousness from the Israeli side. For the families of the hostages, each passing day without progress is agonizing and they are increasingly desperate – Time is running out, and only decisive action can bring the remaining hostages home.
* The Times of Israel contributed to this article.