Tons of of 1000’s of individuals crowded in central Tel Aviv on Sunday evening, capping a nationwide day of protests and strikes calling on the federal government to finish the battle in Gaza and safe the discharge of the hostages held there by Palestinian terrorists.
The rally in Tel Aviv seemed to be one of many greatest because the battle started practically two years in the past, and based on the Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board was attended by over half 1,000,000 folks, although there have been no official police estimates for the group’s dimension.
The discussion board additionally estimated that some 1 million folks had taken half in protests throughout the nation all through the day, as protest teams and organizations joined forces to stage a significant day of civil disobedience after the cupboard voted earlier this month to overcome Gaza Metropolis regardless of warnings by high safety officers that this might endanger the hostages.
Different main protests came about in Jerusalem, Haifa, Beersheba and a number of other smaller cities, with demonstrators blocking roads and highways, demanding that an finish to the battle be reached.
Earlier than Sunday evening’s huge rally started, at the least 38 folks had been arrested throughout the nation as activists blocked streets and in some circumstances clashed with officers who had been attempting to reopen them, based on police.
And after the rally, police mentioned six extra had been arrested after a whole lot “disrupted public order,” clashed with cops and blocked the town’s Ayalon Freeway. That street and all different roads had been reopened to visitors, police added.
The day of protests got here alongside a significant strike, which was joined by a whole lot of native authorities, companies, universities, tech corporations and different organizations, although Israel’s central labor union, the Histadrut, didn’t be part of the trouble.
Individuals collect at Hostages Sq. in Tel Aviv, throughout a rally calling for the discharge of hostages held in Gaza, August 17, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg/ Flash90)
‘My son is struggling in order that the federal government can construct settlements’
Addressing the group of a whole lot of 1000’s on the rally at Hostages Sq. in Tel Aviv, the fathers of two of the hostages accused the federal government of abandoning their sons in captivity for political causes.
Ofir Braslavaski, father of hostage Rom Braslavski, mentioned that he’s watching his son waste away, and might do nothing about it.
Movies of Braslavski and hostage Evyatar David had been launched final week by which they appeared emaciated and deeply distressed.
“Your entire nation noticed, the entire leaders noticed, however the cupboard selected to broaden the battle and abandon them,” Braslavski mentioned. “My Rom has no time, the hostages haven’t any time.”
Ofir Braslavaski, father of hostage Rom Braslavski, addresses a rally at Hostages Sq. in Tel Aviv, August 17, 2025. (Paulina Patiner/ Hostages Households Discussion board)
“To my beloved Rom, keep robust, please. We love you,” he added.
Yehuda Cohen, father of hostage Nimrod Cohen, echoed the accusations towards the federal government: “We’re residing beneath a terror group that refuses to offer us again our youngsters for political causes,” he mentioned of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s authorities.
“My son, Nimrod, is struggling in order that the federal government can construct settlements in Gaza, and I refuse to let him be sacrificed on that altar,” Cohen continued.
“This nation received’t return to normality till the hostages are returned in a complete deal and the battle ends,” he mentioned. “If the Netanyahu authorities isn’t keen to do that, then they need to give up and permit somebody extra accountable to take action.”
Large crowds in and round Hostages Sq. in Tel Aviv for a rally on the finish of a day of strikes and protests nationwide urging a deal for the discharge of all hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, August 17, 2025. (Yair Palti / Professional-Democracy Protest Motion)
On the rally, the household of hostage Matan Zangauker performed a video they launched earlier within the day exhibiting him in Hamas captivity.
The video of Zangauker is only some seconds lengthy, by which he asks his mom to “maintain making noise” and that he “hopes to see [her] quickly.”
Hamas hostage Matan Zangauker seen in an undated video launched by his household on August 17, 2025. (Screenshot/ X)
The video, which was obtained by the IDF throughout operations in Gaza, was mentioned to be from a number of months in the past, with some studies even suggesting the video was from the start of the battle.
Following the screening, Matan’s mom, Einav Zangauker, addressed the group: “My Matan, my hero, I’m so happy with you, how you could have stayed robust for 681 days. Proceed to remain robust.”
Einav Zangauker speaks to a mass rally in Tel Aviv calling for a deal to launch the hostages on August 17, 2025 (Paulina Patimer/ Hostages Household Discussion board)
“Matan requested for noise, so give him noise!” Zangauker mentioned to roaring applause.
“My soul hurts and burns from eager for you,” she mentioned, including that the federal government has turned this “simply battle” into an “countless battle.”
“We don’t have a worthy authorities, however we have now probably the most worthy nation on this planet,” Zangauker continued. “We demand a complete deal and an finish to the battle. We demand what we deserve — our youngsters! And we’ll proceed to demand it till we get it.”
Additionally on the rally, organizers screened a video by which a number of launched hostages beseeched US President Donald Trump to finish the battle and produce the hostages residence.
The previous hostages who addressed the president in English had been Naama Levy, Ohad Ben Ami, Doron Steinbrecher, Sasha Troufanov, Arbel Yehoud and Iair Horn — all of whom had been launched within the final hostage deal, which led to March — along with Michal Lubanov, the spouse of Alex Lubanov, who was kidnapped alive and murdered by his captors in August 2024, along with his physique returned to Israel days later.
A lady reacts throughout an indication organized by households and mates of Israelis held hostage by Hamas within the Gaza Strip since 2023, calling for motion to safe their launch in Tel Aviv on August 17, 2025. (GIL COHEN-MAGEN / AFP)
“Thanks, President Trump, for bringing us residence,” mentioned Levy.
“Each bullet, each strike places them at risk,” added Troufanov of the hazard posed by continued army motion to the remaining hostages.
“You might have the facility to make historical past, to be the president who made peace, ended the battle, ended the struggling, together with my little brother,” Horn mentioned.
Heated encounters on the roads
After the speeches, a whole lot of individuals marched to the close by Likud occasion headquarters, the place they lit a bonfire and clashed with police.
Police stopped the demonstrators from reaching the doorway of the Metzudat Ze’ev constructing, and movies posted to social media confirmed officers jostling violently with demonstrators who had been banging drums and chanting slogans towards the federal government.
המשטרה מפעילה כעת כוח פיזי חריג נגד אלפי מפגינים שמנסים להתקדם לעבר מצודת זאב בתל אביב – מטה הליכוד.
במהלך העימותים קוראים המפגינים לעבר השוטרים: ״שוטר, שוטר – על מי אתה שומר?״ ו־״שוטרים של מחבל״ pic.twitter.com/r6G9gtGXJk— Yanal Jabarin ينال جبارين | ינאל ג׳בארין (@JbareenYanal) August 17, 2025
All through Sunday, as protesters blocked fundamental roads, highways and intersections in virtually each metropolis within the nation, a number of incidents had been recorded by which drivers confronted and even attacked demonstrators for standing of their method.
One such incident was recorded in central Israel’s Hod Hasharon, the place a truck driver stormed out of his car, wielding a steel rod, and tried to punch a number of protesters who had been standing within the intersection.
נהג המשאית שיצא מרכבו עם מוט ברזל ותקף מפגינים – זווית נוספת
17/08/2025 הוד השרון pic.twitter.com/e0OuDPsFSc
— אלימות ישראל (@Alimut_Israel) August 17, 2025
Officers go to Hostages Sq.
Earlier within the day, former protection minister Yoav Gallant paid a go to to Hostages Sq. to lend help to the households of the 50 hostages who stay in Hamas captivity.
Whereas there, Gallant met with a number of kin, together with Idit and Kobi Ohel, the dad and mom of hostage Alon Ohel.
Former protection minister Yoav Gallant (proper) assembly with Idit and Kobi Ohel at Hostages Sq. in Tel Aviv on August 17, 2025. (Uriel Even Sapir/Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board)
The ex-defense minister, who was sacked by Netanyahu in November, has accused the premier and his cupboard of resisting a ceasefire deal that may have led to the return of extra residing hostages.
On the time, Gallant mentioned that he believed he had been fired, amongst different causes, on account of his insistence on securing the discharge of the hostages from Gaza.
A number of different main figures and politicians visited the sq. on Sunday to pay respects to the households, together with President Isaac Herzog, Opposition Chief Yair Lapid, former president Reuven Rivlin and Histadrut chair Arnon Bar-David.
President Isaac Herzog and his spouse, Michal, seem in Hostages Sq. in Tel Aviv as a part of a nationwide protest, August 17, 2025. (President’s Workplace)
Ex-hostage: Protests gave us the energy of 10 meals
Former hostage Eli Sharabi, whose spouse Lianne and two teenage daughters Noiya and Yahel had been killed on October 7, mentioned that seeing the protests whereas in captivity “was value 10 meals.”
Sharabi, who was launched by terrorists in an emaciated situation, informed Channel 12 that the data that persons are combating for them supplies a lift for the hostages.
“It warms the center, it’s wonderful. I bear in mind once I got here out — I wasn’t uncovered to any media for 16 months — however once I got here out and so they confirmed me the issues that the folks of Israel did for the hostages, for the households of the kidnapped, it warmed my coronary heart,” he mentioned.
Eli Sharabi, a former hostage speaks throughout a press convention on the United Nations headquarters on March 20, 2025 in New York Metropolis. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Photographs/AFP)
Sharabi mentioned that whereas he himself was not uncovered to media whereas held in Gaza, his captors informed him that his spouse and daughters had spoken on the demonstrations.
Sharabi mentioned that whereas it was manipulation on the a part of these holding him, it gave him super energy.
“Simply the data that somebody was combating for me outdoors, gave us super energy, it crammed us with nice optimism, which has no worth,” he mentioned.
“That energy was value ten meals. Ten meals of 1 / 4 of a pita bread a day,” mentioned Sharabi.
Some households of hostages oppose the protests
Whereas a lot of the households of the hostages help the protest motion, a number of don’t, believing it to be enjoying into the arms of Hamas and rising their calls for, as Netanyahu and different right-wing figures asserted Sunday.
Standing starkly towards the primary Hostage Households Discussion board is the Tikva Discussion board, a extra hawkish group that represents a cadre of hostage households and kin of fallen troopers who’re against protests towards the federal government and favor army strain to convey their kin residence over negotiations.
Nadav Miran, the brother of the hostage Omri Miran, mentioned that he opposed Sunday’s strikes and protests as a result of they “strengthen Hamas,” arguing that the phobia group sees the most important public uproar towards the Israeli authorities, which leads them to harden their positions.
Additionally talking towards the strikes, Ditza Or, mom of hostage Avinatan Or, mentioned that “the purpose of the strike is to cease the battle, to not return the hostages,” and that the plight of the hostages is simply used to “manipulate” Israelis into taking to the streets to demand an finish to the battle.
Protesters demanding a hostage and ceasefire deal block Start Freeway in Jerusalem on August 17, 2025. (Charlie Summers/Instances of Israel)
Netanyahu mentioned to be open to partial deal
As Sunday’s protests came about, Hebrew media reported that regardless of saying in a Saturday assertion that he’ll solely think about hostage offers that return all 50 captives, Netanyahu is the truth is ready to think about a partial ceasefire and hostage-release settlement with Hamas.
Channel 12 information reported, citing an unnamed senior Israeli official, that an official concerned within the negotiations just lately informed kin of hostages that “Israel is presently ready to goal just for a complete deal. However there are too many unresolved points relating to the tip of the battle. If Hamas agrees to a partial deal beneath situations which are acceptable to us, don’t be stunned if the pink line all of the sudden shifts.”
And Channel 13 information, quoting a senior member of Israel’s negotiating crew, mentioned Netanyahu is keen to debate “a ‘phased’ deal” with Hamas, whereas including that “we have now not acquired a draft from the mediators.” In accordance with the official, each Qatar and Egypt are attempting to jumpstart the method.
Individuals participate in a protest demanding the fast launch of hostages held by Hamas and calling for the Israeli authorities to reverse its determination to take over Gaza Metropolis and different areas within the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv on Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. (AP Photograph/Ohad Zwigenberg)
The studies got here after the Prime Minister’s Workplace issued a press release Saturday evening, insisting that Israel is strictly in search of a complete deal by which all hostages are launched without delay and all of Netanyahu’s situations are met, following claims that Hamas has renewed its willingness to pursue a phased ceasefire-hostage association.
The first voice opposing any partial offers throughout the safety cupboard is Netanyahu’s high adviser, Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Channel 12 added.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks on the weekly cupboard assembly on August 17, 2025. (Screenshot/GPO)
In accordance with the community, Dermer — who strongly objected to any partial frameworks through the cupboard session earlier this month that accepted Israel’s plan to grab Gaza Metropolis in October — is taking this stance as a result of he goals to safe acknowledged ensures from Trump on the phrases of an settlement.
The purpose, the report mentioned, is to acquire inside a month an official announcement from Trump outlining situations for a complete finish to the battle — together with the discharge of all hostages. If this technique succeeds in pressuring Hamas to just accept such phrases, Channel 12 added, the necessity to enter and occupy Gaza Metropolis could possibly be averted.
Nonetheless, throughout Sunday’s cupboard assembly, officers indicated that if a partial deal turns into viable — one that may possible convey residence about half of the residing hostages and half of the deceased captives — Israel could be keen to conform to a 60-day ceasefire, all through which it might reassess how one can proceed with its army marketing campaign.
Demonstrators collect throughout a protest demanding the fast launch of hostages held by Hamas and calling for the Israeli authorities to reverse its determination to take over Gaza Metropolis and different areas within the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, August 17, 2025. (AP Photograph/ Ohad Zwigenberg)
Terror teams within the Gaza Strip are holding 50 hostages, together with 49 of the 251 kidnapped within the Hamas onslaught of October 7, 2023, which sparked the battle in Gaza.
They embody the our bodies of at the least 28 confirmed useless by the IDF. Twenty are believed to be alive, and there are grave issues for the well-being of two others, Israeli officers have mentioned. Hamas can also be holding the physique of an IDF soldier killed in Gaza in 2014.
The Hamas-run Gaza well being ministry says greater than 60,000 folks within the Strip have been killed or are presumed useless within the combating to this point, although the toll can’t be verified and doesn’t differentiate between civilians and fighters.
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