Hostage families, supporters march on Netanyahu’s residence ahead of mass rally

Hundreds of protesters led by a group of hostages’ families arrive at the prime minister’s residence in Jerusalem after marching there from the Knesset.

The hostages’ relatives call on Israelis to travel to the capital, announcing plans for two massive rallies against the expansion of the Gaza war to take place outside the premier’s home. The first rally is set to be held later this evening, while the second is scheduled for Saturday night.

“We are standing here with a very simple, straight and direct message: we want a ceasefire and hostage deal and this is his [Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s] responsibility to do it,” says Yehuda Cohen, the father of Hamas-held hostage Nimrod Cohen.

Anat Angrest, the mother of hostage Matan Angrest, decries the expansion of the war in Gaza. “The IDF chief of staff is saying in a clear voice that continuing the war is a death trap for soldiers,” she claims.

Ofir Braslavski, whose son Rom is also held captive in Gaza, refers to a video of his son released by his captors in the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

“Unfortunately, my child is dying, starving. His eyes were saying that he no longer wants to be alive. There’s nothing worse than that, for a father to see his child in that state and not be able to do anything,” he says. “How can it be that they’re keeping him there and the prime minister wants to occupy more land in Gaza?”