Hostage mothers rally at Habima Square to demand government ink deal

By Charlie Summers 5 July 2024, 1:38 pm 2 Edit

Protesters led by the mothers of Hamas-held hostages demonstrate in support of a hostage deal in Tel Aviv on July 5, 2024. The banner reads: A mother never gives up. (Charlie Summers/Times of Israel)

Mothers of Hamas-held hostages are demonstrating in Tel Aviv’s Habima Square nearly nine months after the October 7 massacre.

The mothers are joined by at least a thousand other demonstrators, who will soon begin marching toward the nearby Hostages Square.

“Every mother knows what it’s like to go through pregnancy,” says Shira Albag, mother of 19-year-old Liri Albag. “I carried Liri for nine months… for nine months now my Liri is there, dealing with darkness in the tunnels, lack of air, and homesickness.”

“There is right now a deal on the table,” she continues, calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to “show leadership and courage and sign off the deal.”

Demonstrators led by the mothers then set out to Hostages Square, chanting: “Women want to return the hostages!”