From the Liveblog of
Sunday, August 17, 2025
Organizers say nearly 500,000 at Tel Aviv rally, 1 million participated in day’s protests nationwide
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The Hostage Families Forum says that almost 500,000 people gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square and the surrounding streets for a mass rally tonight demanding the government reach a deal to free the captives held by terror groups in Gaza.
There is no official police estimate of the size of the crowd in what appears to be one of the largest rallies since the start of the war.
“Almost 500,000 people gathered…to make it clear — the entire people of Israel want the release of all the hostages and end the war,” the forum says in a statement.
The forum also estimates that some 1 million people took part in dozens of protests across the country throughout the day.
“The hostage families wish to tell the people of Israel: ‘Thank you! From here, we will only intensify our efforts. Stay with us until the last hostage is returned!'”
The Times of Israel Community.