From the Liveblog of
Saturday, December 16, 2023
Stage at Tel Aviv rally for hostages moved to highlight organizers’ demands
Cnaan Lidor is The Times of Israel's Jewish World reporter
The stage for the weekly rally urging the release of hostages is facing the Kirya army base, following a rearrangement to highlight the organizers’ demands of the government.
From the stage, Shir Segal, whose mother Aviva was released from captivity in Gaza last month and whose father Keith is still presumed to be held hostage, addresses the security officials inside the base — the nerve center of the defense establishment.
“Gantz, Gallant, Netanyahu, we elected you, now heed our calls and the tremendous suffering of the hostages and approve the framework for a deal right now,” says Shir Segal, as several thousand people gathered at Hostages Square chant “now.”
Yamit Ashkenazi, the sister of Doron Steinbrecher, who is also from Kfar Aza and is believed to be held hostage, notes the “immense pain” the kibbutz is feeling after Israeli troops mistakenly killed three hostages in Gaza, two of whom were from Kfar Aza.
“The war’s objective is to bring them back alive but three hostages, two from Kibbutz Kfar Aza, are returning in coffins,” she says, adding that this shows the need for a “deal right now.”
In previous rallies, the stage faced north, opposite the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, with its back to the Kirya.
Another new development is a protest march, which stopped near the rally and is audible in the square. The 100-odd marchers are chanting “deal now.”
