TEL AVIV — Less than 24 hours before the first hostages are slated to be freed from 15 months of Hamas captivity, thousands gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square Saturday to continue pushing for all 98 captives to be released by the terror organization.
They gathered with strong hopes that the cease-fire deal — which is set to begin at 8:30 a.m. local time with the release of three captured Israelis — will ultimately go through, even as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the deal was threatened by Hamas’ failure to provide the names of all to be set free.
“We will be unable to move forward with the framework until we receive the list of the hostages who will be released, as we agreed,” he declared Saturday.
“Israel will not tolerate violations of the agreement.”
Hamas blamed “technical reasons” for its failure to turn over the names, according to the Times of Israel. Its terrorists speak to each other “physically via emissaries and it takes time to agree on the names and the location of the hostages when IDF planes are still above them,” a source told the outlet.
“The list will only come out after the approval of Hamas leader Muhammad Sinwar,” they added.
Protesters and familys of the hostages took the street to march for a safe deal and the releasing all hostages. Gaby Schuetze/ZUMA Press Wire / SplashNews.com
Among a sea of raised posters in Hostage Square showing the faces of those kidnapped on Oct. 7, 2023, orange balloons were released to mark the second birthday of Kfir Bibas, Hamas’ youngest victim in captivity.
Known for his shock of bright orange hair, the tot, his parents Shiri and Yarden and brother Ariel, 5, were ripped from the bucolic Kibbutz Nir Oz.
Their abduction captivated the world as Hamas terrorists were seen on video wrapping a blanket around Shiri and her children — who were cradled in her arms — before taking them.
Hours before the first hostages are slated to be released from 15 months of Hamas captivity, thousands gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostage Square Saturday to continue pushing for all 98 to be released. Jim Hollander/UPI/ShutterstockA symbol of Hamas’ brutal campaign of taking the most innocent on Oct. 7, there has been no sign of life from Shiri, Kfir, and Ariel from captivity.
“Today, I tried to write a birthday message for Kfir for his second birthday,” Yarden’s sister, Ofri Levy Bibas, said in remarks that moved the crowd to tears.
“A message for a child who cannot celebrate, a child who isn’t here, a child trapped in hell, a child who might not even be alive … but no words came out, only tears.”
People hold hostages’ portraits on stage during a rally in support to the hostages in Paris. APAll four members of the Bibas family in captivity are named on the 33-person list set to be released in the first phase of the cease-fire hostage deal, which was agreed upon by both Israel and Hamas.
“The first three freed people get out of hell and finally return home,” said Lior Ashkenazi, an Israeli actor who hosts weekly protests in Hostage Square outside the Tel Aviv Museum of Art.
Lior Ashkenazi, an Israeli actor who hosts weekly protests for the hostages at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art plaza said, Shosh BedrosianThe 42-day-long first phase of the deal is set to go into effect at 8:30 a.m local time Sunday, Qatari officials announced earlier Saturday.
Three desperate families are in the wait of their lives to see if their daughters will be among those named — if the deal does go through.
Among the many posters showing the faces of those kidnapped on Oct. 7, 2023 include Hamas’ youngest victim in captivity Kfir Bibas. Shosh BedrosianAlthough the names of hostages for phases two and three have not been set yet, anguished families continue to fight to get their loved ones back.
“My hero, you were the first to go into battle, and you were supposed to be at the top of the list,” said Anat Angrest, the mother of Matan Angrest, 22.
“But you are not even included on the list.”
Angrest was a soldier serving on Oct. 7 when Hamas dragged him and the bodies of two other soldiers — including Israeli American Itay Chen — from their tank into Gaza.
Chen’s body is still being held in Gaza, according to the Israel Defense Forces.
Seven Americans are still in Hamas captivity, including three who are presumed alive: Sagui Dekel-Chen, Edan Alexander and Keith Siegel. Dekel-Chen and Siegel are on the list to be released in the first phase of the high-stakes deal.
The hostages’ families praised the work of President-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration after his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff implored Netanyahu to accept the deal.
“Thank you, President Trump, for making this deal possible. My son Matan will not be released in the first phase, but I am hopeful,” Anat Angrest said.
“I believe in your power to do as you promised. Save my son and all other 97 hostages.”
Loved ones continue to push the Israeli government to ensure there is a plan for all remaining hostages to be released — including the transfer of bodies still held by Hamas — so they can have a proper burial in Israel.
Israel will release 1,000 Palestinian prisoners as part of the cease-fire agreement.
