Former hostage Liri Albag called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Donald Trump, who have "made brave decisions on Iran," to make the "brave decision to end the war in Gaza and bring home the hostages" at a rally at Hostage Square on Saturday night.
Albag spoke along with other released hostages, as well as family members of those still held in captivity in Gaza.
She said, "After everything we’ve achieved - after striking Iran and its proxies - only the hostages remain. This is the moment. The people demand their return."
She called on Trump and Netanyahu to bring home all the hostages now, without phases for their release or a partial deal. "All of them. Now. This is our moral obligation. This is the only true victory. Because none of us can return to life while they are still underground.”
Einav Zangauker, the mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, said, “If we lived in a country with a real contract between the state and its citizens, we wouldn’t have reached day 630 with my son Matan - and 49 others - still held in Gaza."
Zangauker said she hoped her son and the rest of the hostages returned and that Israel would "rewrite that contract, not in ink, but in tears, in pain, in love, and in the blood of the fallen. A contract where a single child’s life is worth more than any political gain. A contract where no one forgets that leadership comes with responsibility."
Father of slain hostage Itay Chen calls on Netanyahu, Trump, to return hostages
Ruby Chen, whose son, Itay Chen, was killed and his body held in captivity, spoke at the rally as well. Chen was an American, German, and Israeli citizen and soldier. Ruby Chen called on Netanyahu to adopt Trump's policy of "peace through strength."
Chen called on Netanyahu to bring home all the hostages, saying, "This is not letting Hamas win. This is leadership. It is not weakness. It is a Jewish moral compass. It is time to act, not based on politics, but on values. The history books will not forget if you fail to act, even if you believe that victory over Iran outweighs your responsibility on October 7. Hundreds died. Dozens remain in captivity. Bring them all home. Now.”
Ruby had previously met with former US president Joe Biden while he was still in office to advocate for his son's release, along with other families with loved ones held hostage.
Chen had said in previous statements, "And yes, my son is a US citizen, and I pay taxes in the States, no different than anybody else in the United States. And there’s an expectation, a legal obligation, that this administration needs to find a way to get my son back.”