Day 520 of the War: The Protest Is Back

Yesterday, last Saturday, and the one before it were the first times in a long while that we did not welcome back live hostages. The following week was filled with funerals for deceased hostages and Shiva calls to their families. At the Families’ Headquarters, the atmosphere was bleak once again, with no prospects for renewed negotiations with Hamas—let alone a concrete deal for the return of all the hostages.

Several things stood out to me this week. Shortly after watching the fantastic interview with released hostage Eli Sharabi, he and a group of other former hostages were invited to the United States by President Trump to meet with him. It was an impressive group of former hostages, displaying incredible inner strength and integrity. However, it was disheartening to see that what mattered most to President Trump was hearing their gratitude and admiration for his actions, over and over again. Even in such a moment, he seemed determined to remain at the center rather than allowing them to be. They were merely part of the set for the “strongman” show. It felt like a correction (Tikkun) to what had been missing in Zelensky’s meeting. It reminded me of how our Prime Minister and his wife always insist on hearing words of thanks from those they abandoned. In both cases, the videos released were filled with gratitude and praise.

Another memorable moment was hearing the testimony of former hostage Karina Ariev that while she was in captivity in Gaza, she saw people at rallies and demonstrations holding posters with her picture. That was how she knew that she was not forgotten—it gave her hope and strength. Other returned hostages also spoke about witnessing the struggle for their release. In dark times like these, both the hostages and those of us working for their return need to know that there is a fight—and that it is making a difference.

Last night, I attended a demonstration at Habima. It took place an hour before the rally at Hostages’ Square and the demonstration at Begin Gate, followed by a march to Begin Gate. We heard there that the protest in Kaplan will resume next week. Finally, the fight is intensifying because, as Shikma Bressler emphasized last night, all these battles are connected—as we well know. Most of the key activists were present, and at last, the square was full of people. We do not have the luxury of resting—not until all the hostages are back and this corrupt government, completely disconnected from our nation’s tragedy, is removed from office.