From the Liveblog of
Sunday, August 17, 2025
At mass rally, released hostages plead with Trump to help end war, free captives
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleAriela Karmel is a political correspondent at The Times of Israel. She previously reported for Calcalist and Haaretz. She holds an MA in Middle Eastern and African History from Tel Aviv University and a BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia.
Released hostages beseech US President Donald Trump to end the war and to bring the hostages home, in a video screened at the rally at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, organized by hostage family members.
Former hostages, released in the last ceasefire deal, which ended in March, address the president in English, including Naama Levy, Ohad Ben Ami, Doron Steinbrecher, Arbel Yehoud, and Sasha Troufanov.
“Thank you President Trump for bringing us home,” says Levy.
“Every bullet, every strike puts them in danger,” says Troufanov of the danger posed by continued military action to the remaining hostages.
“You have the power to make history, to be the president who made peace, ended the war, ended the suffering, including my little brother,” says former hostage Iair Horn, whose brother Eitan is still held in captivity.
The message is broadcast to the hundreds of thousands of Israelis who attend the rally, one of the largest during the war.
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