Across the country, tens of thousands of demonstrators, fueled by the emotional plea of recently rescued hostage Almog Meir Jan, took to the streets on Saturday evening and Sunday morning, demanding the release of hostages held by Hamas. The protests, sparked by the longstanding hostage crisis amid the Gaza war, saw participation from a spectrum of society, including families of the hostages, who have been pressing the government to accept a new proposal that could potentially end their loved ones’ captivity.
The momentum for the demonstrations was significantly bolstered by Jan’s call for governmental action, urging leaders to enable the reunion of other hostages with their families. Amidst these public outcries, a critical development emerged from Hamas, which announced it had dropped its demand for an upfront commitment from Israel to end the war, albeit still seeking certain guarantees from mediation parties.
The protest activities are set to intensify over the coming week, with plans for numerous rallies across Israel, marking nine months since the war in Gaza began.