The families of the hostages rallied in demonstrations across Israel on Saturday night to bring the remaining slain captives back from Gaza.
Orna Neutra, mother of slain hostage Omer Neutra, thanked US President Donald Trump for ending the Gaza War, but asked for his assistance in bringing her son's body home.
“Mr. President, thank you for your leadership in ending the war and bringing so many of our hostages home. Your determination and strength have given hope to families across our nation," she said.
"But our mission is not yet complete. Eighteen of our hostages are still held somewhere in Gaza - among them, our beloved son, Capt. Omer Neutra, a US-Israeli citizen. This week, instead of celebrating Omer’s 24th birthday with candles, laughter, and love, we stand here with unbearable pain and endless longing.
"President Trump, we still need your help in holding all stakeholders to this agreement accountable so that we can finally bring our son home and move forward. So that the whole region can finally move forward.
Thank you, Mr. President, for your resolve and compassion."
'The struggle has not ended' hostage family members say
Einav Zangauker, mother of released hostage Matan Zangauker, said that the Hostages and Missing Families Forum would not stop until the last Gaza captive was brought home.
“My Matan, our Matan, is home. Right now, Matan is sitting in our living room watching you, the people of Israel, and his heart is full of appreciation and gratitude toward you. Thanks to the determination, perseverance, and spirit of faith and hope we all share, Matan has returned home, alive," she said.
"But struggle has not ended. The struggle will not be over until the last deceased hostage returns to us, until every family can lay their loved one to rest with a proper burial. The victory we long for will only be achieved when the last fallen hostage is returned home.
"I promise the families of the deceased hostages the same promise that you - millions of citizens - made to me over the past two years: I am with you, you are not alone. We will continue to fight in the name of those values, we will do whatever is required until we bring them all home," he said.
Roee Baruch, brother of slain hostage Uriel Baruch, spoke on his relief that he gets to bury his brother properly.
“Tomorrow, after 744 days of worry, after 744 days of agonizing uncertainty, after more than two years - we will bury my younger brother," he said.
"Only tomorrow, after the funeral, will we finally be able to begin the long journey of healing our family. I know what it is to wait for a deceased hostage, I know what it is to be in uncertainty for two years, I know that from tomorrow we will have closure. But our mission has not ended: there are still 18 deceased hostages in Gaza. All of them must be brought home.
"A grave to cry over is not a right, or a favor, or a luxury: it is the moral obligation of this country toward its citizens.“
Kibbutz Nir Oz also released a statement on Saturday after the remains of former resident Eliyahu "Churchill" Margalit were returned to Isarel.
"We celebrated together the return of our loved ones - Eitan, Matan, David, and Ariel - who came home to their families after more than two years in captivity. At the same time, we continued to call for the return of all the hostages, until the very last one," the release said.
"Last night, Eliyahu Margalit, our beloved “Churchill,” was brought back to Israel for a proper burial in the kibbutz he so deeply loved."
"Today, with four of our loved ones from Kibbutz Nir Oz and 14 other civilians and soldiers still held captive, we declared in one unified voice: the struggle is not over until the last hostage is returned."
Hemi Goldin, brother of slain hostage Lt. Hadar Goldin, slammed the Israeli government for not sticking to its demands from Hamas.
“Seventy-two hours have passed, yet 48 hostages have not returned. Government of Israel, you had one clause - after all we have been through here, after all that you have endured - one clause. Seventy-two hours and 48 hostages, not all of them came home. And no, the struggle is not over. Not because anyone wants to fight, but because there is no choice," he said.
"We are here to say: enough. We will not be deceived, our blood will not be spilled, and no one will make political capital or business off our suffering. We are the people here. Without you, and without the brave people who remain underground there, there would be no state."