Father of returned captive at Hostages Square: Make sure today’s release isn’t the last

Speaking at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Gilad Korngold hails the return from Hamas captivity of his son Tal Shoham this morning, “after 505 long days in which he breathed the air of hell.”

He thanks the government, US President Donald Trump and the Austrian chancellor for securing the release of Shoham, a dual Israeli-Austrian citizen.

“Looking into his eyes, after so many times I imagined this meeting, was worth every moment of the unremitting struggle we and you have been waging for far too long,” Korngold tells the 2,000-odd crowd at Hostages Square.

Korngold notes that this was the last weekend of the hostage deal’s first phase.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not committed to the second phase, which would see Israel withdraw from Gaza and Hamas return remaining living hostages. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has threatened to topple the government should it withdraw from the Strip.

“As of now, this is the last Saturday that we, the citizens of Israel, will get to see pictures of hostages embracing their loved ones,” says Korngold.

“We can and must get all the hostages out,” he says. “And we need all of you, with us, to make sure that no one — no one — thwarts the rest of the mission to release the hostages who are still suffering in Gaza.”

Ahead of his speech, Korngold and his wife Nitza met at Hostages Square with Sasha Troufanov, who was released last Saturday, Hebrew media reports.

A block away, on Begin Road, hundreds of anti-government, pro-hostage deal protesters rally in front of the IDF headquarters.

Yehuda Cohen, whose soldier son Nimrod is slated for release only in the deal’s second phase, accuses Netanyahu of consistently working to thwart any hostage deal since October 7, 2023, out of political expediency.

Cohen thanks Trump and his Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff for locking in the Gaza hostage deal.

Meanwhile, says Cohen, “the criminally accused Netanyahu,” who has been indicted on several counts of graft, is running “endless circles to cover up his sins and crimes.”

“The criminal Netanyahu will do anything to please the war-monger Smotrich,” says Cohen. “The criminal Netanyahu will do anything to cover up his crimes against the State of Israel.”

In English, Cohen addresses the US president, pleading with him to help secure the remaining hostages’ release: “President Trump — we rely on you. Only you can do it.”