Einav Zangauker, Itzik Horn, and other family members of hostages still in captivity led Saturday evening protests calling for an immediate hostage deal to free their loved ones.
"[Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu did not try to bomb the leaders of Hamas, but our chance of getting our loved ones back," said Zangauker. "He will bomb everything that leads to the end of the war, including the hostages themselves."
Itzik Horn, the father of Eitan Horn, who is still held captive, also addressed Netanyahu in his speech, saying, "Those who want to bring the hostage children home do not blow up the Hamas negotiating team while they are discussing the release of the remaining hostages."
"Prime minister, I call on you, let's sit down alone, father to father, and answer me just one question: If your children were among the hostages, would they also languish in the tunnels for 700 days?! So why are our children?"
Nofar Buchshtab, sister of Yagev Buchshtab, who was killed in July of 2024 remains were returned from Gaza, said: "The army bombed the compound where he was held along with the other hostages, and his captors took them out and executed them. Was he killed or murdered? Unequivocally murdered. This wouldn't have happened if the military pressure hadn't reached their door."
Planned protest at Hostages' Square
Saturday evening will also see the hostages' families march from Savidor Central Train Station to Hostages' Square, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum announced.
The rally will include freed hostages and relatives of hostages still in captivity.
According to the Forum, this includes Macabit Mayer, the aunt of still-captive hostage twins Gali and Ziv Berman; Dalit Oron, mother of Idan Shtivi, a hostage who was murdered in Hamas captivity and whose body returned to Israel; freed hostage Sharon Alony-Cunio, wife of David Cunio, who is still in captivity; freed hostage Alma Or, daughter of Dror Or, who was murdered on October 7 and whose body is still being held in the Gaza Strip; and captivity survivors Aviva and Kieth Siegel.
“President Trump, you saved my life. But the mission is not finished. Your deal is on the table," said Keith Siegel. "You have the power to make it happen. I urge you: act now. Do not wait. Do not allow more days to be lost in the tunnels.”
Captivity survivor Alma Or said, “The terrorists who held us captive abused us and tried to frighten us constantly. The most terrifying thing, worse than any physical pain, was when they told us that Israel didn't want us. That no one cared that we were there.
"When I returned, I discovered that my mother had been murdered, and that my father was missing, and we didn't know if he was alive or not. I held onto hope that he was alive, and on day 208 of the war, I learned that my father was murdered on October 7 and then kidnapped."