Freed hostage Iair Horn has claimed that his fellow captives “ do not have any more time” in a stark warning to negotiators.
Horn shared his emotional testimony as thousands gathered at Tel Aviv's Hostages Square to mark 500 days since 251 people were abducted during the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023.
Demanding the return of those still being held in Gaza, Horn, who had been held captive by Hamas and endured brutal conditions in Gaza's tunnels, urged officials to do everything in their power to bring the remaining hostages home.
In a tearful pre-recorded message he said: “I was there. I was in Hamas’s tunnels. My body endured this captivity, and I’m telling you the hostages do not have any more time,” he told the crowd of around 2,000 people.
Horn was taken from Kibbutz Nir Oz during the October 7 assault and his brother, Eitan, remains in Hamas captivity. “We’re out of time. We must return them now,” he implored, adding, “Bring back my brother and all of the hostages.”
The rally, which marked the closing stages of a 500-minute fast by campaigners, was staged amid continued tension over the fate of the remaining captives
Reports from Israel suggest that Hamas could release as many as six hostages this weekend in return for the advancement of the ceasefire agreement.
However, the second phase of the deal, which would secure the release of the remaining hostages, is uncertain, with mixed signals from the Israeli government about resuming negotiations.
Several coalition members have indicated that they would vote against the second phase, with far-right minister Bezalel Smotrich threatening to resign and bring down the government if negotiations are progressed.
Over 2000 people gathered at Tel Aviv's 'Hostages Square' on Monday night (Image: Flash90)Flash90
Meanwhile, Aviva Siegel, a former hostage whose husband Keith was released earlier this month, shared the harrowing details of her husband's captivity.
She recounted how, for six months, Keith was held alone in a small room, subjected to extreme deprivation, with food that was inedible and enduring random beatings from his captors. “The terrorists turned Keith into nothing,” she said. “Every human thing was taken from him.”
Yeela David, whose brother Evyatar David remains in captivity, emphasised the importance of completing the second phase of the deal.
“The young men who were left behind did not undergo any special training to handle this situation. They’re just like anyone else,” she said. “If the deal falls apart and there is no second phase, it will be a stain on our history books.”
