Thousands protest in Tel Aviv as Blinken visits, demanding hostages’ return
Rally includes display of an empty Shabbat table, dolls awaiting captive children and protesters wearing red eye coverings
Thousands of people joined the families of hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza on Friday afternoon to stage a protest outside IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv, as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with senior Israeli officials and as the Israeli military continued its massive offensive against Hamas in the Strip with the stated goals of freeing the hostages and eradicating the terror group.
Over 240 hostages have been held in Gaza by Hamas since October 7, when 3,000 terrorists stormed the border with Israel, killing some 1,400 people, mostly civilians, many of whom were slaughtered amid brutal atrocities.
The families of the hostages announced on Friday that they would be protesting indefinitely, and have demanded that no ceasefire be initiated and no more humanitarian aid be delivered to Gaza until their loved ones are returned home.
They said they were setting up a tent camp outside the base, which also houses the Defense Ministry.
They also sought to make clear to Blinken that they will fight the US administration’s efforts toward so-called humanitarian “pauses” in the fighting unless these include the return of the hostages. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday no such halt would occur unless the captives are freed.
“The families of the hostages will sleep in front of the ministry,” the families said in a joint statement.
The rally included a display of an empty Shabbat table to symbolize the hundreds missing, as well as dolls waiting for the more than 30 children who are among those held by the terrorists in Gaza. Other protesters wore red eye coverings as they sat on the floor, play-acting as hostages.
In remarks to the press after meeting Netanyahu, Blinken said the US was also relentlessly focused on securing the release of hostages.
In a brief televised statement before the start of Shabbat, Netanyahu said he told Blinken that he rejects any temporary halt to the fight against Hamas that does not include “the release of our hostages. He also says Israel “will not enable the entry of fuel to Gaza.”
Netanyahu begins by promising that victory will be “sharp and clear” and will “resonate for generations.”
He said Israel’s enemies aim to destroy the country and will fail. “We won’t stop until victory,” he says, specifying that this means “to destroy Hamas, [and attain the] return of the hostages and the restoration of security for our citizens and children.”
The Pentagon confirmed that the US is conducting unarmed drone flights over Gaza to aid efforts to locate the hostages.
“In support of hostage recovery efforts, the US is conducting unarmed UAV flights over Gaza, as well as providing advice and assistance to support our Israeli partner as they work on their hostage recovery efforts,” Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder said in a statement.
