From the Liveblog of
Saturday, July 19, 2025
Ex-captive Doron Steinbrecher urges Netanyahu, Trump to ‘make Israel great again’ with Gaza deal
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSpeaking to some 2,000 people at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square, Doron Steinbrecher, who was released from Hamas captivity as part of the truce-hostage deal in January, urges Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the war, secure a hostage deal and “make Israel great again.”
“Six months ago I saw the sun for the first time after 471 days in the tunnels,” she says. “Six months ago I drew my first breath that wasn’t all fear.”
"לפני חצי שנה בדיוק עברתי משערי הגהינום למדינת ישראל. לא מאמינה שהייתי שם 471 ימים. לא מאמינה שישנם אנשים שעדיין שם 652 ימים."
שורדת השבי דורון שטיינברכר נשאה דברים הערב בכיכר, לפני יציאתה לצד משפחות החטופים בצעידה לכיוון שגרירות ארה"ב, משתפת את הקהל הגדול ברגעים הראשונים שלה… pic.twitter.com/Ts0cXW7V1X
— מטה המשפחות להחזרת החטופים והנעדרים (@BringThemHome23) July 19, 2025
“Now, after six months, I still can’t breathe… without fear,” she says. “It’ll take time. And the first step is that everyone comes back.”
She addresses Trump in English: “We have met and spoken; I know how personally important this is to you, how deeply you are involved, and I know what you are capable of. Make it happen. Let everyone emerge through the gates of hell so that we may rise.”
“Bibi and Trump,” she continues, using Netanyahu’s nickname. “Close the deal, [so] that we could make Israel great again!’
The Hostages Square rally is shortened today so attendees can march on to a large demonstration outside the US Embassy Branch Office on Ben Yehuda Road.
A block away from Hostages Square, in front of the Begin Road entrance to IDF Headquarters, some 500 anti-government hostage relatives and activists are also holding a truncated demonstration and will march on to Ben Yehuda.
The Times of Israel Community.