Hours after news broke in Israel of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah’s death in an Israeli strike, some families of hostages called for Israel to use that momentum to pursue an immediate hostage deal. A group of hostage families including Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan was taken hostage on October 7, announced today that they would hold a protest in Tel Aviv today to support the release of their loved ones.
The protest will take place at 8:00 p.m. in front of the Kirya military base in Tel Aviv.
On Thursday, the Hostage Families Forum announced that its main Saturday protest in Tel Aviv would not take place because of the escalating violence with Hezbollah.
“We’re aware of the uncertainty regarding security and the concern regarding additional escalation. We understand and respect the public that decide to stay home today,” the group of families that are planning to protest wrote.
They wrote that families of hostages don’t have “the privilege of stopping, even for a second.” “Especially now, when the center of gravity has moved northward, we’re obligated to continue crying out the cry of our loved ones from the tunnels and reminding the Israeli government that abandoned the hostages that there is no victory, and won’t be any victory, until everyone returns,” they wrote.
“We will demand of the government—this is the time for a deal,” they continued. “Take advantage of the achievements in the north, which are changing the Middle East, to pursue a deal now.”
This article was translated and edited for context by Leah Schwartz.
