From the Liveblog of
Saturday, October 11, 2025
‘This could be the last rally for the hostages’: Jon Polin thanks Trump for ‘strong-arming’ leaders into making Gaza deal
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJessica Steinberg, The Times of Israel's culture and lifestyles editor, covers the Sabra scene from south to north and back to the center
The mood is somber but hopeful at the Jerusalem rally as Jon Polin and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, the parents of murdered hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, step onstage to the applause of the crowd.
“You are not alone, we are with you,” call the crowd.
“I don’t truly feel comfortable speaking yet, assuming this is over, but it’s said this could be the last rally for the hostages,” says Polin.
He thanks top IDF negotiator Nitsan Alon, and the IDF soldiers who he says would stop the family in the street to tell them they were fighting to bring the hostages home, as well as those who lost their sons in battle, and the injured soldiers.
He also thanks the medical professionals and educators for navigating the last two years as they did.
He thanks US President Trump for “strong-arming the deal down the throats of the decision makers” in this region, and urges him to continue doing so.
Polin thanks the crowd who refused to be quiet before a broken nation.
“It’s not obvious, and you caused this deal to happen,” says Polin.
He calls for a better, stronger government and leaders with more empathy.
The Times of Israel Community.