Protesters gathered outside the Israeli parliament, the Knesset, on Tuesday to demand the release of remaining hostages held in Gaza. The demonstration coincided with ongoing negotiations between Israel and Hamas towards a potential ceasefire deal.
Participants in the protest formed a human chain and displayed banners with the names and faces of the captives, urging for their safe return. Messages such as “DON’T leave me behind!” and “everyone is a humanitarian case! No one should be left behind!” were prominently featured.
Reports indicate that Hamas is expected to release 33 hostages in the initial phase of the proposed agreement. Further discussions for a comprehensive ceasefire, aimed at ending the conflict, are set to commence after the first phase has been implemented for 16 days.
One demonstrator, Shay Dickmann, shared a personal account of her family's experience with hostage situations involving Hamas. She emphasized the importance of ensuring the safe return of all captives, citing a previous ceasefire deal in November 2023 that resulted in the release of a family member while tragically losing another to captivity.
Dickmann expressed optimism about the current negotiations and urged the negotiators to prioritize the release of all hostages. She conveyed a message of trust in the negotiators' ability to facilitate the safe return of the captives, emphasizing the critical role they play in the process.
As the protest outside the Knesset highlighted the emotional toll of hostage situations on families, the calls for a swift and comprehensive resolution to the conflict resonated strongly among the demonstrators. The collective plea for the safe return of all hostages underscored the urgency and importance of reaching a lasting ceasefire agreement.
