Thousands rally in Tel Aviv ahead of Netanyahu press conference, cabinet meeting, to call for hostage release

Families of hostages held in Gaza, and thousands of their supporters, have gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square for a rally focused in particular on the some 40 children believed held hostage in Gaza, among some 240 hostages in total.

To coincide with Monday’s World Children’s Day, most of the speakers are relatives of the children being held by Hamas and other terrorist groups since October 7.

Many of the families of the hostages headed straight to Tel Aviv after completing a five-day march to Jerusalem earlier this evening.

Representatives of the families have just met with war cabinet minister Benny Gantz and war cabinet observer Gadi Eisenkot, both of whom are former IDF chiefs of staff.

They are scheduled to meet on Monday with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant.

Eisenkot is quoted telling them that “the return of the hostages is the supreme priority [of the war], before the destruction of Hamas” — a stance that others helming the coalition have not expressed. He said a possible deal for the hostages was being discussed “day and night.”

Gantz reportedly told the families that “the entire cabinet is convinced that military pressure contributes to the [efforts for the] return of the hostages.”