Families of hostages held in Gaza for 100 days hold 24-hour rally, beg government to bring them home
A man holds a sign calling for the release of the hostages taken by Hamas militants into the Gaza Strip during a demonstration at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan. 13, 2024. Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war after Hamas’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7 in which the group killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. In the Gaza Strip, health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)
People attends a demonstration calling for the release of the hostages taken by Hamas militants into the Gaza Strip at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan. 13, 2024. Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war after Hamas’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7 in which the group killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. In the Gaza Strip, health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)
A woman holds a sign showing the pictures of one of the hostages taken by Hamas militants into the Gaza Strip during a demonstration calling for their release at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan. 13, 2024. Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war after Hamas’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7 in which the group killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. In the Gaza Strip, health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people, mostly civilians as well.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)
People attends a demonstration calling for the release of the hostages taken by Hamas militants into the Gaza Strip at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan. 13, 2024. Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war after Hamas’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7 in which the group killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. In the Gaza Strip, health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)
A woman holds a sign calling for the release of the hostages taken by Hamas militants into the Gaza Strip at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan. 13, 2024. Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war after Hamas’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7 in which the group killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. In the Gaza Strip, health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people, roughly 1% of the Palestinian territory’s population. Thousands more remain missing or badly wounded.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)
FILE - Irena Tati, center left, and Lena Troufanov, center, both released by Hamas last week, hold pictures of their, respectively, grandson and son, Alexander, still held by Hamas in Gaza, during a demonstration to call for the release of hostages in the Hostages Square at the Museum of Art in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Dec. 2, 2023. Now 100 days old, the latest Israel-Hamas war is by far the longest, bloodiest, and most destructive conflict between the bitter enemies. The fighting erupted on Oct. 7, 2023 when Hamas carried out a deadly attack in southern Israel. Since then, Israel has relentlessly pounded the Gaza Strip with airstrikes and a ground offensive that have wrought unprecedented destruction, flattening entire neighborhoods. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit, File)
A sign showing one of the hostages taken by Hamas militants on Oct. 7th hangs on the wall as people walk through an installation simulating a tunnel in Gaza in an act of solidarity with hostages believed to be held underground in Gaza and calling for their return, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan. 13, 2024. Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war after Hamas’ cross-border attack in which the group killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. In the Gaza Strip, health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people, mostly civilians as well.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)
People walk through an installation simulating a tunnel in Gaza in an act of solidarity with hostages believed to be held underground by Hamas and calling for their return, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan. 13, 2024. Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war after Hamas’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7 in which the group killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. In the Gaza Strip, health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people, mostly civilians as well.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)
A m anholds a sign showing the picture of one of the hostages taken by Hamas militants into the Gaza Strip during a demonstration calling for their release at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan. 13, 2024. Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war after Hamas’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7 in which the group killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. In the Gaza Strip, health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people, mostly civilians as well.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Two girls embrace during a demonstration calling for the release of the hostages taken by Hamas into the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7th at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan.13, 2024. Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war after Hamas’ cross-border attack in which the group killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. In the Gaza Strip, health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people, mostly civilians as well.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)
A man holds a sign calling for the release of the hostages taken by Hamas militants into the Gaza Strip during a demonstration at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan. 13, 2024. Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war after Hamas’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7 in which the group killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. In the Gaza Strip, health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)
A man holds a sign calling for the release of the hostages taken by Hamas militants into the Gaza Strip during a demonstration at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan. 13, 2024. Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war after Hamas’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7 in which the group killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. In the Gaza Strip, health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)
People attends a demonstration calling for the release of the hostages taken by Hamas militants into the Gaza Strip at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan. 13, 2024. Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war after Hamas’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7 in which the group killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. In the Gaza Strip, health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)
People attends a demonstration calling for the release of the hostages taken by Hamas militants into the Gaza Strip at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan. 13, 2024. Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war after Hamas’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7 in which the group killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. In the Gaza Strip, health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)
A woman holds a sign showing the pictures of one of the hostages taken by Hamas militants into the Gaza Strip during a demonstration calling for their release at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan. 13, 2024. Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war after Hamas’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7 in which the group killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. In the Gaza Strip, health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people, mostly civilians as well.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)
A woman holds a sign showing the pictures of one of the hostages taken by Hamas militants into the Gaza Strip during a demonstration calling for their release at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan. 13, 2024. Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war after Hamas’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7 in which the group killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. In the Gaza Strip, health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people, mostly civilians as well.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)
People attends a demonstration calling for the release of the hostages taken by Hamas militants into the Gaza Strip at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan. 13, 2024. Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war after Hamas’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7 in which the group killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. In the Gaza Strip, health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)
People attends a demonstration calling for the release of the hostages taken by Hamas militants into the Gaza Strip at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan. 13, 2024. Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war after Hamas’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7 in which the group killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. In the Gaza Strip, health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)
A woman holds a sign calling for the release of the hostages taken by Hamas militants into the Gaza Strip at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan. 13, 2024. Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war after Hamas’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7 in which the group killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. In the Gaza Strip, health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people, roughly 1% of the Palestinian territory’s population. Thousands more remain missing or badly wounded.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)
A woman holds a sign calling for the release of the hostages taken by Hamas militants into the Gaza Strip at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan. 13, 2024. Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war after Hamas’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7 in which the group killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. In the Gaza Strip, health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people, roughly 1% of the Palestinian territory’s population. Thousands more remain missing or badly wounded.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)
FILE - Irena Tati, center left, and Lena Troufanov, center, both released by Hamas last week, hold pictures of their, respectively, grandson and son, Alexander, still held by Hamas in Gaza, during a demonstration to call for the release of hostages in the Hostages Square at the Museum of Art in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Dec. 2, 2023. Now 100 days old, the latest Israel-Hamas war is by far the longest, bloodiest, and most destructive conflict between the bitter enemies. The fighting erupted on Oct. 7, 2023 when Hamas carried out a deadly attack in southern Israel. Since then, Israel has relentlessly pounded the Gaza Strip with airstrikes and a ground offensive that have wrought unprecedented destruction, flattening entire neighborhoods. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit, File)
FILE - Irena Tati, center left, and Lena Troufanov, center, both released by Hamas last week, hold pictures of their, respectively, grandson and son, Alexander, still held by Hamas in Gaza, during a demonstration to call for the release of hostages in the Hostages Square at the Museum of Art in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Dec. 2, 2023. Now 100 days old, the latest Israel-Hamas war is by far the longest, bloodiest, and most destructive conflict between the bitter enemies. The fighting erupted on Oct. 7, 2023 when Hamas carried out a deadly attack in southern Israel. Since then, Israel has relentlessly pounded the Gaza Strip with airstrikes and a ground offensive that have wrought unprecedented destruction, flattening entire neighborhoods. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit, File)
A sign showing one of the hostages taken by Hamas militants on Oct. 7th hangs on the wall as people walk through an installation simulating a tunnel in Gaza in an act of solidarity with hostages believed to be held underground in Gaza and calling for their return, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan. 13, 2024. Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war after Hamas’ cross-border attack in which the group killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. In the Gaza Strip, health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people, mostly civilians as well.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)
A sign showing one of the hostages taken by Hamas militants on Oct. 7th hangs on the wall as people walk through an installation simulating a tunnel in Gaza in an act of solidarity with hostages believed to be held underground in Gaza and calling for their return, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan. 13, 2024. Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war after Hamas’ cross-border attack in which the group killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. In the Gaza Strip, health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people, mostly civilians as well.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)
People walk through an installation simulating a tunnel in Gaza in an act of solidarity with hostages believed to be held underground by Hamas and calling for their return, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan. 13, 2024. Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war after Hamas’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7 in which the group killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. In the Gaza Strip, health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people, mostly civilians as well.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)
People walk through an installation simulating a tunnel in Gaza in an act of solidarity with hostages believed to be held underground by Hamas and calling for their return, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan. 13, 2024. Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war after Hamas’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7 in which the group killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. In the Gaza Strip, health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people, mostly civilians as well.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)
A m anholds a sign showing the picture of one of the hostages taken by Hamas militants into the Gaza Strip during a demonstration calling for their release at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan. 13, 2024. Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war after Hamas’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7 in which the group killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. In the Gaza Strip, health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people, mostly civilians as well.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)
A m anholds a sign showing the picture of one of the hostages taken by Hamas militants into the Gaza Strip during a demonstration calling for their release at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan. 13, 2024. Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war after Hamas’ cross-border attack on Oct. 7 in which the group killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. In the Gaza Strip, health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people, mostly civilians as well.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Two girls embrace during a demonstration calling for the release of the hostages taken by Hamas into the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7th at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan.13, 2024. Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war after Hamas’ cross-border attack in which the group killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. In the Gaza Strip, health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people, mostly civilians as well.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)
Two girls embrace during a demonstration calling for the release of the hostages taken by Hamas into the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7th at the Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Israel, Saturday Jan.13, 2024. Sunday marks 100 days that Israel and Hamas have been at war after Hamas’ cross-border attack in which the group killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage. In the Gaza Strip, health authorities say the death toll already has eclipsed 23,000 people, mostly civilians as well.(AP Photo/Leo Correa)
The families of hostages held in the Gaza Strip kicked off a 24-hour rally in Tel Aviv Saturday night, calling on the government to bring their loved ones home after 100 days spent in Hamas captivity.
Thousands of people poured into “Hostages Ssquare” in Tel Aviv — a central plaza opposite Israel’s Defense Ministry that has served as a gathering point for the campaigners.
Hamas and other Gaza militants captured some 250 people during its deadly Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, while killing some 1,200 other people, most of them civilians.
More than 100 hostages were released during a temporary truce in November, but 132 remain held in Gaza including the remains of about two dozen who died or were killed.
“We were here on day 50 and spoke on this stage. We are not going to speak again in 50 days. It’s time to bring them back. Now! Bring them back!,” said Ronen Neutra, the father of Omer Neutra, an Israeli soldier who was taken. “They are being held in terrible conditions. They are starving. They are dying.”
There has been little visible progress toward a new deal to release hostages. Their families are using the 100-day mark for a new appeal to the government to prioritize bringing home the abductees. Some have said the government has not done enough.
Israel said Saturday that it had brokered a deal with mediator Qatar to deliver badly needed medicines to the hostages with the help of the International Committee of the Red Cross. There was no immediate sign that the deal was being implemented.
Osama Hamdan, a Hamas leader in exile, said Saturday in Beirut that the group was giving some of the available drugs in Gaza to hostages.
Near the rally in support of the hostages, anti-government demonstrators calling for new elections to be held blocked a major Tel Aviv highway, clashing with police who made arrests and tried to push the crowd back. Other protesters advanced toward Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s private residence in the coastal town of Caesarea, calling for his dismissal from office.
In Tel Aviv, many of the protesters were planning to stay out all night. The crowd listened to a recorded message from French President Emmanuel Macron, and heard from the U.S. ambassador to Israel, Jacob Lew. Lew and Macron pledged to exhaust every effort to bring the remaining hostages home.
“Today, as we mark 100 days since hundreds of innocent men, women and children were violently seized from Israel, we join as one in demanding their release,” Lew said.
In previous exchanges of hostages for Palestinian prisoners, nearly all freed on both sides were women and minors. Now, 111 men, 19 women and two children remain in Gaza.