Hostages Forum holds protests across Israel demanding government accept new ceasefire proposal

Major highways across Israel were blocked Tuesday morning as the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, along with anti-Netanyahu and anti-government groups, launched another day of protests demanding action for the Israeli hostages.

Protesters blocked sections of Highway 1 between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, parts of Route 443, and the coastal stretch of Highway 2, where they set fire to piles of tires and laid out large banners on the streets on Highway 2.

In Tel Aviv, demonstrators shut down the Ayalon Highway, the city’s main north–south artery, forming human chains and holding banners that read, “Saving the hostages!” and “We’ll stop when everyone returns.”

Similar to last week's protests, the demonstrations began at 6:29 a.m., the same minute that Hamas terrorists launched their attack across the border fences into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. In Tel Aviv, the main protest event at the Hostages Square location, near Israel's military headquarters, was attended by several hostage family members. 

Groups of demonstrators also gathered outside the homes of several government ministers, including Education Minister Yoav Kisch, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar. 

Einav Zangauker, the mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, who has been a key speaker at many of the recent protests, attacked the Netanyahu government for not agreeing to a hostage-ceasefire deal and saying the government is “waging a war without a clear goal.” 

“We have a wonderful nation, but there is no government,” she declared. “Only with our strength can we bring about a comprehensive agreement and an end to the war. The government abandoned them, but the nation will bring them back!” 

Itzik Horn, the father of released hostage Yair Horn and current hostage Eitan Horn, accused the coalition (government) of “another deliberate torpedo operation of an agreement to return hostages” after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to reject the Egyptian hostage proposal, saying that Israel is only interested in a comprehensive deal to free all the hostages. 

Hamas stated that it had accepted the Egyptian proposal, which would see the release of 10 living hostages and 18 deceased hostages in exchange for a 60-day ceasefire; the release of over 200 Palestinian security prisoners; and the start of negotiations for an end to the war. 

“The progress of a plan to occupy Gaza while there is a deal on the table for the prime minister to sign is a stab to the heart of the families and the entire nation,” Horn said at the rally. 

Marches are expected in several cities at 2 p.m., and a final rally for the hostages will be held at Hostages Square after sunset.