The demonstration, organised by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, is calling for an end to the war and the immediate return of all Hamas captives
August 26, 2025 10:52
A fresh wave of pro-hostage protests began in Israel on Tuesday morning, with demonstrators blocking major roads and gathering outside the homes of ministers
Activists from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, including relatives of those still held in Gaza, led marches across the country demanding an end to the war and a deal to ensure the return of the remaining captives.
A number of major highways - including routes 1, 2, 40 and 443 - were closed to traffic, with protestors even lighting a large fire in the middle of Route 2.
All roads have since been reopened, with police stressing that “freedom of protest and expression is not freedom to harm many others’ freedom of movement”.
A police spokesperson added: “Blocking roads without permission and in a manner that may endanger road users or harm citizens’ freedom of movement will not be allowed.”
Speaking at Tel Aviv's Hostages Square, Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan remains in captivity, hit out at the government for failing to secure his release.
She said: "[The government] attacked captivity survivors and the families of the hostages - all in an attempt to silence them.
"We have a wonderful nation but there is no government.
"Only with our strength can we bring about a comprehensive agreement and an end to the war. The government abandoned them but the nation will bring them back."
Kobi and Idit Ohel, whose son Alon is believed to be badly wounded but still alive, were also in attendance.
"Alon has to be returned home,” Kobi told the Times of Israel. “He’s suffering, wounded, [has spent] almost two years under the worst conditions. It’s a miracle that he’s surviving.
“He’s strong, he believes in this country, and he knows that Israel will save him. They have to be saved now. There’s an agreement on the table. This is the time.”
Other activists gathered outside the homes of various government ministers, including those of Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Education Minister Yoav Kisch, reading aloud the names of hostages and blaring air horns.
And a number of politicians also joined the marches, with Labor MK Gilad Kariv encouraging people to take to the streets.
“Two hostage deals that returned [almost] 200 people to Israel only happened because of public pressure,” he claimed.
”It’s true that the Biden and Trump administrations closed these deals, but without hundreds of thousands of Israelis in the streets, Netanyahu wouldn’t have even entered them.”
Likewise, Democrats chair Yair Golan, who was among those blocking Highway 531, tweeted: “Only the people will bring back the hostages. We will not stop until everyone returns home.
“Leave your homes - to the squares, to the intersections. We must not leave the families alone.”
The marches follow on from last week's protest, which was estimated to be the largest anti-war demonstration since operations in Gaza began in October 2023.
However, they do not enjoy universal support in Israel, with some hostage organisations arguing that the continuation of the war effort is the only viable route to saving their loved ones.
Tzvika Mor, the father of Eitan Mor and founder of the Tikva Forum hostage movement, said of last week’s strike: "We are opposed, of course [to the protests]. It has nothing to do with the hostages. This is a day of consolidation for the left.
“The left's protests are directed against the citizens of Israel and not against our enemies. There is no connection to the abductees.”
Prime Minister Netanyahu scheduled a Security Cabinet meeting for Tuesday afternoon, but it is understood that ministers would not be discussing the latest ceasefire proposal.
Last week, Hamas confirmed it had accepted a prospective deal, but there has not yet been a formal response from Israel.
The agreement, based on a framework developed by US Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, would entail a 60-day truce and partial release of the hostages across two phases in return for IDF withdrawal and a commitment from Jerusalem not to return to war.
Following the announcement, Netanyahu confirmed that Israeli diplomats would return to negotiations, but indicated that Jerusalem would not accept any deal unless it included the immediate release of all hostages and the surrender and disarmament of Hamas.
In a video message recorded for the IDF's Southern Command, he said: "We are at the stage of decisive victory. I came today to the Gaza Division in order to approve the plans that the IDF presented to me and to the Defence Minister for taking control of [Gaza city] and for defeating Hamas.
"At the same time, I instructed [officials] to begin immediate negotiations for the release of all our hostages and for ending the war under conditions acceptable to Israel.
"These two things — the defeat of Hamas and the release of all our hostages — go hand in hand."
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