From the Liveblog of
Sunday, August 17, 2025
Ex-defense minister Gallant visits Hostages Square in show of solidarity
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.
Former defense minister Yoav Gallant is at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv to support the families of the 50 hostages who remain in Hamas captivity.
Gallant is meeting with different families, including Idit and Kobi Ohel, the parents of hostage Alon Ohel.
Hostages’ families are congregated in the square as part of a daylong protest and nationwide strike opposing the government’s decision to expand the war in Gaza rather than negotiate a deal to return the remaining hostages.
The ex-defense minister, who was sacked by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in November, has accused the premier and his cabinet of delaying a ceasefire deal that would have led to the return of more living hostages.
At the time, Gallant said that he believed he had been fired, among other reasons, due to his insistence on securing the release of the hostages from Gaza.
The Times of Israel Community.