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Wafric News – May 11, 2025

Thousands of Israelis filled the streets of central Tel Aviv over the weekend, demanding an end to the ongoing war in Gaza and the safe return of Israeli hostages still held in the besieged enclave.

The demonstrations, led by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, were staged in what has come to be known as “Hostages Square,” where relatives of captives and their supporters have gathered weekly. A separate protest outside Israel’s military headquarters drew families who say the government is failing to prioritize the return of their loved ones.

Simultaneously, an anti-government protest took place at Habima Square, underscoring growing public discontent with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of both the war and internal governance.

One protester, Shai Mozes, whose parents were held hostage and later freed, addressed the crowd with sharp words:

“Our real enemy isn’t Hamas — it’s Netanyahu, who is dismantling Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.”

Netanyahu Under Fire from Families of Captives

Critics accuse the Israeli leader of prolonging the war in Gaza for political survival. Speaking from Amman, Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut reported that families of the remaining captives believe Netanyahu is obstructing a ceasefire deal that could bring their loved ones home.

“There are still 59 Israeli captives in Gaza. Of those, 35 are confirmed dead, 21 presumed alive, and 3 remain unaccounted for,” Salhut stated.
Israeli officials, however, maintain that military pressure—not negotiation—is the best strategy for rescuing the captives. But many Israelis now question that approach, saying it risks the lives of those still held.

Thousands of demonstrators gather to protest against the policies of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv on April 5, 2025.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum condemned Netanyahu’s recent announcement of a renewed military offensive in Gaza, calling it a betrayal:

“The plan is sacrificing the hostages,” the group said in a statement.

Protests have spread beyond Tel Aviv to cities like Jerusalem, Haifa, and Beersheba, as well as across dozens of smaller towns and intersections nationwide.

Hamas Releases Captive Video Amid Rising Tensions

Adding to the emotional weight of the protests, Hamas’s armed wing released a three-minute video on Saturday showing two Israeli captives, Elkana Bohbot (36) and Yosef Haim Ohana (24), alive in Gaza.

Ohana, speaking in Hebrew, pleaded with Israeli authorities to end the war and negotiate the release of all hostages.
Bohbot appeared visibly weak, wrapped in a blanket and lying on the floor.

Both men were abducted from the site of a music festival during Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on southern Israel.

The video has reignited pressure on the Israeli government, with families and activists insisting that peace talks—not military escalation—are the only viable path forward.


By WafricNews Desk.

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