Tens of Thousands Rally in Tel Aviv for Gaza Ceasefire, Hostage Return
Tens of Thousands Rally in Tel Aviv for Gaza Ceasefire, Hostage Return
Tens of thousands of demonstrators converged on Tel Aviv on Sunday, August 17, 2025, in one of the largest protests seen in Israel since the conflict began in October 2023. The massive rally demanded an immediate end to the ongoing war in Gaza and the urgent release of all hostages.
The demonstration, culminating a day of nationwide protests and a general strike, aimed to intensify pressure on the government to halt its military campaign. Chants of “Bring them all home! Stop the war!” echoed through Hostage Square, a central point for protesters throughout the 22-month-long conflict.
The Hostage and Missing Families Forum, orchestrating the day’s actions, estimated approximately 500,000 participants in Tel Aviv, though police have not confirmed this figure. Einav Zangauker, mother of hostage Matan and a prominent voice in the protest movement, stated, “We demand a comprehensive and achievable agreement and an end to the war. The Israeli government has transformed a just war into a pointless war.”
The protests gained further emotional weight following the broadcast of a video message on Sunday from Matan Zangauker, filmed by Hamas and discovered by the Israeli army. In the video, a visibly weak Matan addressed his family, expressing how much he missed them. Demonstrator Ofir Penso, 50, emphasized the urgency, telling AFP, “This is probably the last minute we have to save the hostages.”
These large-scale demonstrations come just over a week after Israel’s security cabinet approved plans for capturing Gaza City, deep into a conflict that has caused a severe humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian territory. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has vowed to continue efforts to “shut down the country” until the hostages are returned and the war concludes.
Across Israel, protesters engaged in road blockages, tire burning, and clashes with police, leading to over 30 arrests. Prime Minister Netanyahu criticized the protests, asserting that such actions “not only harden Hamas’s position and draw out the release of our hostages, but also ensure that the horrors of 7 October will reoccur.”
Meanwhile, mediators, including Egypt, are reportedly leading renewed efforts to secure a 60-day truce and hostage release deal, following a previous round of unproductive talks in Qatar. Government members opposing any deal with Hamas, like far-right finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, decried the protests as a “perverse and harmful campaign that plays into the hands of Hamas.” Conversely, opposition leader Benny Gantz condemned the government for “attacking the families of the hostages” while being responsible for their captivity for nearly two years.
The Israeli military offensive has resulted in at least 61,000 Palestinian deaths, predominantly civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, with thousands more believed to be buried under rubble or indirectly affected by the conflict.
Disclaimer: This content is aggregated from public sources online. Please verify information independently. If you believe your rights have been infringed, contact us for removal.