Hostages’ families address protesters before Tel Aviv march; relative briefly detained, torch taken by police

Protesters gather on Begin Street to call for a deal to release hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, with family members of hostages speaking one after the other on Azrieli Bridge, above the demonstrators.

Meirav Svirsky, the sister of Itay Svirsky, a hostage who was killed while in captivity, calls on the government to not send forces into Rafah to prevent the deaths of more hostages.

Einav Zangauker, the mother of the hostage Matan Zangauker, says that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “sacrificing” her son and the rest of the hostages.

She also calls against an invasion of Rafah, which she says would hurt the hostages, and adds that US President Joe Biden cares more about the hostages than Netanyahu.

Meanwhile, protesters chant against the government and call for a deal to be made immediately. Some demonstrators make use of pyrotechnics.

The Times of Israel witnesses a skirmish between police and protesters leading to Ayala Metzger, the daughter-in-law of hostage Yoram Metzger, being briefly detained.

According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred while the families marched their way from Hostages Square to join the demonstration, and Metzger had a torch she was carrying confiscated by police.

After rallying there, protesters begin marching south down Begin Street.