On August 17, 2025, hundreds of thousands of Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square for a massive rally, capping a nationwide day of protests and strikes urging the government to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza and end the nearly two-year-long war. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a key organizer, estimated that over 500,000 people attended the Tel Aviv rally, with more than 1 million participating in demonstrations across Israel, including in Jerusalem, Haifa, Beersheba, and smaller cities. While police did not provide official crowd estimates, the event was among the largest since the conflict began in October 2023.
The protests followed the Israeli security cabinet’s controversial decision earlier in August to expand military operations into Gaza City, despite warnings from top security officials that this could endanger the hostages. Demonstrators blocked major roads and highways, with some setting tires ablaze and clashing with police, leading to at least 38 arrests during the day and six more after the Tel Aviv rally. The protests were accompanied by a general strike supported by hundreds of local authorities, businesses, universities, and tech companies, though Israel’s largest labor union, the Histadrut, did not participate.
At the Tel Aviv rally, families of hostages delivered emotional pleas. Ofir Braslavaski, father of hostage Rom Braslavski, spoke of his son’s suffering, referencing recent videos showing Rom and another hostage, Evyatar David, appearing emaciated and distressed. “The cabinet chose to expand the war and abandon them,” Braslavaski said, urging his son to “stay strong.” Yehuda Cohen, father of hostage Nimrod Cohen, accused the government of prioritizing political goals, like building settlements in Gaza, over the hostages’ lives. “My son is suffering so that the government can build settlements, and I refuse to let him be sacrificed,” Cohen declared.
Einav Zangauker, mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, shared a video of her son, filmed by Hamas and recovered by the Israeli military, in which he asked her to “keep making noise.” Addressing the crowd, she said, “My Matan, my hero, I’m so proud of you, how you have stayed strong for 681 days.” She criticized the government for turning a “just war” into an “endless war” and demanded a comprehensive deal to bring the hostages home.
The rally also featured a video message from former hostages, including Naama Levy and Sasha Troufanov, who were released in a March deal. They appealed to U.S. President Donald Trump to push for an end to the war, warning that continued military action endangers the remaining hostages. “Every bullet, every strike puts them in danger,” Troufanov said.
The protests highlighted deep divisions in Israeli society. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the military campaign, arguing that ending the war without defeating Hamas would invite future attacks like the one on October 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and saw 250 hostages taken. However, critics, including opposition leader Benny Gantz, accused the government of failing the hostages’ families. Meanwhile, far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called the protests “harmful” and accused demonstrators of supporting Hamas.
Israel’s military offensive has killed over 61,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to Gaza’s health ministry, and caused widespread hunger and destruction. As international and domestic pressure mounts, Egypt has reported renewed efforts to secure a 60-day truce that includes hostage releases. For now, the families of the roughly 20 surviving hostages and the bodies of about 30 others still in Gaza continue their fight, vowing to “shut down the country” until their loved ones are brought home.