Jerusalem protesters urge hostage deal, hailing rescue op but lamenting deaths of other captives

Hundreds of protesters calling for a hostage deal are rallying in Jerusalem’s Paris Square tonight in the wake of the IDF’s rescue of four hostages — Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov and Shlomi Ziv — earlier today.

The IDF also confirmed the deaths of another four hostages last Monday: Nadav Popplewell, Amiram Cooper, Yoram Metzger and Haim Peri.

On the central stage at the rally are large photos of the slain hostages as Tom Barkai, a relative of Haim Peri and organizer with the Jerusalem branch of the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, speaks to the crowd.

“They were alive, and because of the government and this failure of a cabinet they are no longer alive,” says Barkai.

Barkai brings up today’s rescue operation, met by cheering and clapping from the crowd.

“There is nothing more important, every hostage must return!” protesters chant.

At the top of the street a few meters away, a group of religious Zionist teenagers are singing and dancing over Barkai’s speech.

After speeches conclude in Paris Square, protesters will march to Independence Park.