Hostage activists hold ‘Last Chance March’ in Tel Aviv to urge hostage deal

Relatives of hostages held in Gaza and hundreds of their supporters rally to push Israel’s leadership toward an agreement that will free captives in Gaza, amid the high-stakes talks in Qatar aimed at reaching a deal.

Taking to the streets in Tel Aviv for a procession dubbed the “Last Chance March,” protesters demand that negotiators dispatched to Doha keep going until a deal is sealed, arguing that time is running out for the 115 hostages still being held in Gaza after more than 10 months of war.

“To the negotiating team – if a deal is not signed today or in the coming days at this summit, do not return to Israel. You have no reason to return to Israel without a deal,” says Yotam Cohen, whose brother Nimrod Cohen is a hostage in Gaza.

“Itzik was kidnapped alive from Nir Oz and seen alive 52 days later,” Danny Elgarat says about his brother. “If he’s not alive today, his blood is on the hands of those undoing the talks.”

Israelis attend a rally calling for the release of Israelis held by Hamas in Gaza outside the Defense Ministry Headquarters in Tel Aviv, August 15, 2024. (Tomer Neuberg/Flash90)