'One Phase, One Hope': Hostage families to hold rally in Tel Aviv calling for a hostage deal

A large rally calling for a hostage deal was held on Saturday night in Hostage Square on Kaplan Street, Tel Aviv, marking 428 days since the start of the war.

The Hostages and Missing Families Headquarters announced the rally would start at 8 p.m., under the slogan: "It’s High Time; One Phase, One Hope."

"The time has come for a comprehensive, single-phase deal to return all hostages: the living for rehabilitation and the deceased for dignified burial in their homeland."

On what would have been his birthday, the mother of murdered hostage, Sahar Baruch, said "our beloved Sahar hasn't yet been laid to eternal rest and we cannot and should not accept this."

Tamar Baruch spoke to the attendees of the events leading to Sahar's capture: "On October 7th, Sahar and his brother Idan were in our home in Be'eri when terrorists attacked the kibbutz. Idan was murdered near the house and was buried in the kibbutz where we all lived. Sahar was taken to Gaza, and during Hanukkah, we received the bitter news pf his death in captivity]."

Russia routlette

"We must not stay silent while living hostages are murdered," she added. "Our hearts will not rest until the last hostage returns home."

Nofar Buchshtab, the sister of the late Yagev Buchshtab, said that Israel's military pressure on Gaza endangers the hostages and the soldiers, and called for a change in tact.

"This week we heard from IDF officers how the army bombed the underground complex where Yagev, Nadav, Alex, Chaim, Yoram and Avraham were held, how only afterwards did they realize they were there - how they found their bodies in the tunnel, and that they were likely executed following the bombings."

"To think that even today, after 428 days, there are hostages still underground, suffering every moment, living Russian roulette - it's unbearable."

Noam Safir, granddaughter of the oldest hostage in Gaza, Shomo Mantzur, 86, spoke of how he and his family survived the Iraqi Farhud and yet how he now endures a second fight against terror.

Unlike the first time, Safir continued, Mantzur was brutally taken from his home in Kibbutz Kisufim, in his own car, handcuffed, and since then there's been no information about him.

"He sits in dark tunnels, shivering, scared and abandoned."

The sister of Doron Steinbrecher, Yamit Ashkenazi, spoke of the 321 days that have passed since Hamas released a video of her sister alive [on day 107 of the war].

"321 days of silence. 321 days of deafening quiet that pierces the heart. 321 days where fear has become my biggest enemy. They're here - so close, it's maddening."

Video of Matan Zanguaker

Earlier on Saturday, Hamas published a three-minute video of hostage Matan Zangauker, 24, to Telegram on Saturday, entitled “Time is running out.”

In the video, Zangauker introduces himself and tells the camera that he has been in captivity for over 420 days. He then sends a message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “I heard about your new plan to return us home. I heard that you will give $5 million to whoever returns us safely home and provide them a safe exit from the Gaza Strip. I am very disappointed. Now I am certain that you do not know your enemies and you do not understand their mentality. This is your failure and the failure of the government since October 7.”

Zangauker added that “we die a thousand times every day, and no one feels for us. The people of Israel, do not neglect us. We are still alive. We want to return before we go crazy. Isolation is killing us, and the darkness here is frightening. It is illogical that we pay the price for the government’s mistakes, and it is time to put an end to our suffering.”

In an interview with Kan, his mother Einav Zangauker, said "It took me a while to understand that it was just a video and Matan cannot hear me. It's hard to hear Matan say, Mum, don't abandon us. You can see his thinness, the lack of sleep, the crying, the shaking. The hostages will only return if there is a comprehensive deal and if the war ends."

Police response

Israel Police announced that they arrested five "rioters" at an "illegal demonstration in Tel Aviv" beginning on Begin Road.

The five people were reportedly arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer.

"Protesters broke through police barriers, blocked Begin Road northbound and attempted to get onto Ayalon Road," the police added.

According to the statement, officers used riot control measures to stop the protesters. In videos published by the Police spokesperson, mounted riot officers can be seen trying to control the rally.