‘It’s Now Or Never’: Thousands Rally In Israel To Demand Return Of Gaza Hostages

Last Updated:October 05, 2025, 08:22 IST

Thousands gathered at the Hostages Square to mark two years of the Hamas-led October 7 attacks, demanding the Israeli government to ensure the safe return of all hostages.

Thousands of people gathered in Israel’s Hostages Square to demand safe return of all hostages.

Thousands of people gathered at the Hostages Square in Israel’s Tel Aviv as part of a rally to mark two years since the Hamas-led October 7 attacks that claimed the lives of over 1,200 people, demanding the Israeli government to ensure that US President Donald Trump’s Gaza peace plan is a success.

A significant breakthrough in peace efforts came when Hamas agreed to key elements of Trump’s peace proposal, including the release of all hostages and the handover of the administration of the Gaza Strip to a Palestinian body of independents (technocrats), based on Palestinian national consensus and supported by Arab and Islamic backing.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was hopeful of announcing the return of all hostages from the Gaza Strip in the coming days and has ordered his negotiating team to go to Egypt to close the technical details of the release of the hostages.

General ‘Can’t Let Another Deal Collapse’

Thousands of people gathered at Hostages Square, which has become a site for protests demanding the government to bring back hostages taken by Hamas during the October 7 attack. In the aftermath of the attacks, it has become a place to express solidarity with the families of the hostages, express grief and demand action.

Family members demanded the Netanyahu government to make Trump’s peace plan a success and ensure the safe return of the remaining 48 hostages. “It’s now or never” banners were put up everywhere even as protesters argued that this deal can’t be allowed to collapse.

“We can’t let another deal collapse. It’s now or never,” said one of the protesters, who were hopeful of the recent developments surrounding Trump’s ambitious peace proposal for Gaza, while also concerned about the possibility of the deal not materialising.

General Families Of Hostages Demand End To Fighting

Netanyahu had been under immense domestic pressure as families of the hostages have demanded for months for him to end the war and bring back the remaining hostages. Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has wreaked unprecedented levels of death and devastation in Gaza, which stalled peace negotiations.

Of the remaining 48 hostages, Israel believes that 30 captives are dead. Netanyahu said he was hopeful of announcing the return of all hostages from the Gaza Strip in the coming days, while the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) remain deep within the territory and in controlling areas.

Israel said its troops were still operating in Gaza and warned residents not to return, despite calls from the families of Israeli hostages and Trump for an immediate halt to the fighting. Gaza’s civil defence agency said at least 57 people have been killed since dawn in Israeli strikes, including 40 in Gaza City alone.

General About the Author

Aveek Banerjee

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international…Read More

Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master’s in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international…

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