As the one-year anniversary of the October 7 terrorist attack approaches, demonstrations were held across major Israeli cities demanding the government take action on a hostage release deal. Protesters in Jerusalem, Beersheba, Caesarea, and Tel Aviv gathered in large numbers following the Rosh Hashanah-Shabbat break.
Despite tensions with Hezbollah and Iran, around one thousand protesters assembled in Tel Aviv. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum postponed their global solidarity event to October 13th. Families of hostages expressed frustration at the government’s inaction in advancing a release deal, with one daughter-in-law of a victim criticizing ministers.
Other organizations blamed the Israeli government for failing to prioritize hostage return. ZAKA spokesman Yisrael Hasid recounted the horrific scenes he witnessed in the aftermath of the attack. Actress Alona Sa’ar also joined protests against the government. The call for action and release of hostages remains strong as the anniversary approaches.