From the Liveblog of
Saturday, August 30, 2025
At Tel Aviv rally, cousin of slain hostage Carmel Gat urges Trump to ‘end this war now’
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Thousands of protesters gather in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square to rally for a hostage deal and ceasefire in Gaza, ahead of tomorrow’s scheduled security cabinet meeting in which ministers are expected to push ahead with plans for the IDF to take over Gaza City.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum calls the scheduled meeting “further proof that Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government is aiming for a forever war and the sacrifice of the hostages,” and urges protesters to travel tomorrow evening to Jerusalem and demonstrate outside the Prime Minister’s Office.
“This coming week, we will go up to Jerusalem with one call, a deal before it’s too late!” says Gil Dickmann, the cousin of slain hostage Carmel Gat, from the stage.
In English, Dickmann appeals to US President Donald Trump to pressure Israel’s government into signing a deal to end the war.
“My cousin Carmel Gat was murdered in captivity one year ago; you weren’t president then, you weren’t there to save her. If you had been president then, maybe she’d be alive here today,” says Dickmann, who is a dual Israeli-American citizen.
“Don’t let Bibi fool you like he fooled resident Biden, save these hostages, Mr. President, like you saved so many others,” he continues. “President Trump, end this war now!”
Organizers have unfurled a massive banner visible from the sky that reads: “Trump, make history.”
The Times of Israel Community.