Hostage families, supporters, and protesters marked 300 days of the Israel-Hamas war and their loved ones’ captivity on Thursday.
The Hostage Family Forum planned a march around the Kirya military headquarters and a rally in Hostage Square to mark the milestone on Thursday evening.
“Three hundred days since that day when 115 were taken hostage and are still abandoned in Hamas tunnels, we are stopping everything and coming together with the hostage families to shout ‘enough! We must close a deal,’” said the forum.
Families blocked the southern Ayalon Highway on Thursday morning, calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to make a hostage deal, Israeli media reported.
The inscription “300” was painted in giant letters across the highway.
'Hostages abandoned in Hamas tunnels'
For “300 days, my son Matan and another 114 hostages are abandoned in Hamas tunnels because of Netanyahu who repeatedly thwarts deals,” said Einav Zangauker, mother of hostage Matan Zangauker.
“The citizens of the State of Israel are running out of oxygen; the more Netanyahu drags on the war and thwarts deals, the more the situation in the North heats up. We are like a step away from a multi-front war, and we need a hostage deal that will bring our loved ones home to us, lead to an agreement in the North, and return the displaced to their homes,” she said.
The family of Hersh Goldberg-Polin planned a march from Jerusalem’s First Station to the area outside the Jerusalem Great Synagogue, where participants will gather in song and prayer.
A protest was also planned for outside Netanyahu’s Jerusalem home Thursday night.
“Enough! The 300th of October must end, 300 days of abandonment must end – and it seems that what the government is focused on is not saving the hostages,” said organizers.
Numerous businesses also marked the 300th day – Tel Aviv’s Azrieli Tower, Jerusalem’s Chord Bridge, the Strauss building, Bezek’s building, and more buildings were lit up in yellow for the hostages.