At Tel Aviv rally, ex-hostage says ‘there’s a small light’ for hostages after Sinwar killed

Speaking before hundreds of people crowded into Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, captives’ relatives hail the IDF for killing Hamas chief Yahya Sinwar and urge the government to use the military achievement to bring the hostages home.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has resumed its weekly Tel Aviv rallies at the square rather than nearby Begin Road, where a louder anti-government rally is being held. Rallies at Hostages Square have typically been more staid and emphasized national unity.

Eli Shtivi, the father of slain hostage Idan Shtivi, told the crowd at Hostages Square that “both on the right and on the left there is one thing that unites everyone: everyone wants the hostages home.”

“And to you Sinwar the scoundrel I have a single message,” he continues. “You thought you could sow disunity among us [and] disintegrate us: you failed.”

Simona Steinbrecher, mother of hostage Doron Steinbrecher, also thanks the troops and hails the killing of Sinwar. Addressing international media in English, she calls for countries’ governments to “push Hamas hard” to release the hostages, and to “bring more peace.”

Meirav Tal, who spent 53 days in captivity and was released in the November ceasefire deal — and whose partner Yair (Yaya) Yaakov was killed during the October 7 onslaught and whose remains are held in Gaza — says she has remained largely silent thus far but felt obligated to speak out against “the normalization of the broken reality we are living in.”

While in captivity, she says, “the terrorists took everything from me — the control of my body, the control of my will.”

“I heard your cries at Hostages Square, and it was a breath of fresh air for me,” she says.

“Now that the IDF troops have killed the psychopath Sinwar, there is a small light,” she adds. “This is the time to act in full force to bring the hostages home.”

Yaela David, sister of hostage Evyatar David, and Shelly Shem-Tov, mother of hostage Omer Shem-Tov, also speak, decrying how more than a year has passed since their loved ones were kidnapped.