On Saturday night, released hostage Doron Steinbrecher spoke to the crowd of protesters at Hostages Square in her first public statement since being released from Hamas captivity in January. Along with the other speakers, Steinbrecher called for a deal to bring back all the hostages at once.
Steinbrecher said that she and the other hostages knew of the existence of the protest movement during their captivity and that it gave them strength. She also recounted being told she would be released during the November 2023 hostage deal, only to have that release delayed by more than a year when fighting resumed.
“On Thursday, November 30, 2023, they told me I was going home. But a few hours later, they said it would only happen the next day. I couldn’t sleep all night from excitement. Unfortunately, the morning started with the sounds of explosions, and with them, the realization that I wasn’t going home,” Steinbrecher said. “Last Tuesday, March 18, I didn’t wake up to explosions—I woke up to WhatsApp messages. Some wished me a happy birthday, while others updated me on what had happened overnight: the fighting had resumed, and the hostages were not coming home.”
Steinbrecher expressed her concern for the 59 hostages still in Gaza, around half of whom are thought to be alive. “I am angry at those who think it’s acceptable to resume fighting—how are you not listening to us? I come here because this issue cannot disappear from the headlines. The families and friends cannot be left alone. After so much time in captivity, you feel like people have given up on you,” she said. “Facing fear—both there and here—means knowing that people are standing by you, that you are not alone.”
Eyal Eshel, the father of lookout soldier Roni Eshel, who was murdered on October 7, 2023, spoke on Saturday at a demonstration on Begin Road: “If Roni were here, she would cry out loud and clear: ‘Bring our brothers home—today!’“
A leader in the struggle to establish a state commission of inquiry into October 7, Eshel called for the inquiry to also examine whether the negotiations regarding the hostages “was free from political considerations and whether some of the hostages who returned in coffins could have been saved.”
Ayelet Goldin, sister of Hadar Goldin, the soldier whose body has been held in Gaza since 2014, also addressed the crowd. “Your brothers’ blood cries out to you from the ground,” she said, quoting the biblical story of Cain and Abel.
“There is one supreme goal—moral and ethical, Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and international—to bring back all the hostages. First, the living, for rehabilitation and the embrace of their families. Then, the fallen, for Jewish burial. Only after we bring everyone back can we call ourselves proud Israelis,” she said.
Ronen Neutra, the father of Omer Neutra, who was abducted on October 7 and whose body is being held in Gaza, addressed the dismissal of Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, reportedly because Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “lost confidence” in him.
“Most of the country has lost confidence in the government and its leader. The people cannot be fired. We will continue to be here and shout because the people—across all segments—are better than this,” he said. “They are tired of division and want leadership that unites, investigates failures, and takes responsibility.”
Amit Nimrodi, the sister of hostage Tamir Nimrodi, also spoke out. “I am a 15-year-old girl. I want to go back to being a kid. Since October 7, we have had no information about Tamir, except for the horrifying videos of his abduction—where he was taken on foot, barefoot, without his glasses. I want to address the government now: Please sign the second phase and bring my brother home,” she said.
Sagui Dekel-Chen, who was kidnapped on October 7 and released in February 2025, joined the weekly rally of the Nir Oz community for the first time in their temporary neighborhood in Kiryat Gat. Also present was released hostage Gadi Moses.
Sagui’s wife, Avital Dekel-Chen, addressed her husband. “For the first time, I am standing here at a rally, speaking in front of the most important person in my life. For months, I have spoken at so many events, but you never got to hear a single speech. And yet, I never gave up—I knew you could feel the strength I was sending. Today, you see what a rally for hostages looks like in Israel,” she said.
“A few days ago, we spoke about the renewed fighting and how it affects the lives of the hostages,” she continued. “You told me that you know war from the other side of the fence and that when there is war, there is no hope. And what you fear most is that your friends still there are losing hope, and you are terrified for their fate. So, I want you to look at the people around you and see how much strength is here. We will not give up on the hostages. We will do everything to bring them home. The strength you see here is unwavering, present every Saturday to say to all of us: We are with you.”
Earlier in the evening, hostage families held a press conference outside the Defense Ministry offices in Tel Aviv. “The war is killing the hostages, and now there is the horrifying possibility that it will also make them disappear,” said Yehuda Cohen, father of the hostage Nimrod Cohen. “Netanyahu chose war to escape his trial and the establishment of a state commission of inquiry. Under the cover of war, he is dismantling the country and entrenching his rule. This is an emergency—we cannot stand idly by. Take to the streets!”
Yifat Kalderon, the cousin of released hostage Ofer Kalderon, addressed US President Donald Trump: “Netanyahu is running a deception and influence campaign, even on the US administration. And he has convinced you, Mr. President, that destroying Hamas’ rule takes priority over rescuing the hostages. This is a lie. The Israeli and security interest is first and foremost the hostages. Don’t fall for Netanyahu’s trap.”
Merav Svirsky, whose brother Itay Svirsky was killed in captivity, added: “Netanyahu dismantled the negotiating team, didn’t give them a mandate, and isn’t even putting forward an Israeli proposal to bring all the hostages home. We must return them all in one phase. We must save the country. Take to the streets!”
