Thousands Rally in Tel Aviv Demanding Hostage Release Deal
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL - September 28, 2025 – Thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv today, intensifying pressure on Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to finalize an agreement with Hamas for the release of hostages held in Gaza. Demonstrators, including families of those still captive, are calling for an end to the ongoing conflict and the safe return of their loved ones.
The protests underscore a deepening rift within Israel over the warS direction. While the public desperately seeks the return of hostages, Netanyahu’s governing coalition faces opposition from far-right factions who demand the complete defeat of Hamas, even at the cost of prolonging negotiations. The situation is especially sensitive as Netanyahu leads a government without a parliamentary majority, making him reliant on these hardline allies.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, a prominent figure on the far-right, publicly warned Netanyahu against any agreement that does not ensure the “total defeat of Hamas,” stating, “Mr. Prime Minister, you do not have the mandate to end the war without the total defeat of Hamas.”
The current conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of 1,219 Israelis, the majority of whom were civilians, according to official data compiled by AFP. During the attack, 251 individuals were taken hostage; as of today, 47 remain in gaza, with the Israeli army declaring 25 of those presumed dead.
In response, Israel launched a military offensive in Gaza that has, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry-figures considered reliable by the United nations-led to 65,926 fatalities, predominantly civilians. The escalating humanitarian crisis and the continued detention of hostages are fueling the growing calls for a negotiated resolution.
