WATCH: Freed hostage Omer Shem Tov opens up about his time in Gaza: "We felt like our souls were being murdered"

With the 526th day of the war marked, and with 59 hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza, their families held a protest tonight (Saturday) at Sha’ar Begin in Tel Aviv, as they do every Saturday night.

Omer Shem Tov, a hostage freed three weeks ago, delivered a recorded message at the central rally currently underway at Hostages Square: "There are so many people there right now, left alone. I was alone for 450 days—it’s a horrible feeling. You reach terrible thoughts; every day feels like an eternity. It’s so hard for me to think about what they’re going through right now because I know that feeling, I know what they’re experiencing. We felt like our souls were simply being killed, just murdered. Like, it’s a terrible feeling? This has to stop. It has to stop as soon as possible."

He continued: "If I’m here now and have this opportunity, I’d like to appeal to the government to keep going, just keep going. This can’t go on—these drips, this torture. You probably don’t—I don’t know if you understand this, or I don’t know—but you’re simply breaking them. You reach a point where you’re eating a crumb a day. Like, you’re eating nothing a day, right? It’s very hard, very, very hard."

Omer added: "Everyone wants to defeat this enemy, but there’s a priority order, and the hostages need to come first. The moment the IDF is in the area, it has a big impact. The IDF is doing holy work. I think the IDF is doing an amazing job, yes? Every soldier is a hero of Israel, but at the same time, the military pressure makes things very difficult."

He elaborated: "When I was above ground, there were awful explosions, but once I went underground (into the tunnel), there were also a lot of explosions, earthquake-like tremors. I heard the tanks passing over me. I heard the soldiers, and they (the terrorists) already had their weapons drawn. Like, they’re just standing there with guns in hand, waiting for the moment they’d come. Standing next to me, you know, and I’m sitting there on that mattress praying to God. Just praying to God."

He said in pain: "It’s a situation where you say to yourself, ‘Okay, this isn’t in my hands, there’s nothing I can do right now,’ so you sit and pray, and you just hope for the best. So it’s time for the Israeli government to take matters into its hands and make a decision to bring everyone home at once. Not in drips, not in 50-day deals—no. It’s time to bring everyone home in one phase."

Omer concluded his recorded message with gratitude: "The people of Israel are alive and thriving. And I just love you all so much, I love you so, so much. I came back because of you, but the mission isn’t complete yet. I’ll do everything to bring all the hostages home as soon as possible. Let’s fight for this together—the people of Israel are alive and thriving, we’re united and strong!"

Itzik Horn, father of released hostage Yair and Eitan, still held in Gaza, arrived at the Sha’ar Begin protest in a wheelchair and spoke: "I’m coming here today, recovering from surgery, to hold a mirror up to Netanyahu. In this mirror, the horrific result of Netanyahu’s selection method is reflected. My son Yair returned from captivity, leaving his brother—my son Eitan—behind in captivity. The prime minister of the Jews is abandoning Jews going through a Holocaust! Netanyahu, look into the eyes of a father forced into Solomon’s judgment! You want to sacrifice our children for the pleasures of power."

Einav Tsengauker, mother of hostage Matan, also spoke at the protest: "While Netanyahu violates the agreement he signed and abandons the hostages to the Holocaust they’re enduring, we see a public that understands that ‘never again’ is now, joining us in the fight to bring everyone back and shape the face of this country. I look the public in the eye and say: Know that there is a choice."

"The war won’t bring the hostages back; it will kill them," she continued. "The choice is to implement the agreement, bring the hostages back in one phase, and end the war. The choice is a fight for the living hostages and the fallen, for the sense of security of every mother, father, boy, and girl in this country. The 59 hostages and an entire nation deserve justice—to embrace our loved ones again and bury the precious ones who were murdered with dignity."

Meanwhile, protests are taking place at various locations across the country. A demonstration was expected to begin at 8:00 PM outside the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem, where Netanyahu is holding a security consultation amid the crisis in negotiations with Hamas. In addition, a protest against the government and its attempts to oust the Attorney General and Shin Bet chief is taking place at Habima Square in Tel Aviv. Protests also occurred at various intersections nationwide, where dozens of Israelis waved Israeli flags alongside yellow flags.