"My heart was murdered in Gaza," Michal Lobanov, whose late husband Alex was one of the six hostages murdered two weeks ago by Hamas, said Saturday evening at the main demonstration's stage at Begin Gate in Tel Aviv.
Demonstrations in Tel Aviv and around the country for an immediate hostage deal, with subsequent calls for the government to step down for failing to reach a deal, have resumed Saturday night.
"My two boys are now fatherless. They will not get the chance to have their father raise them. How will our two young sons live in a country where its government abandoned their father? For them and for me, it is too late," Lobanov said.
"We could have done more; we could have pushed for a deal to release them before they were murdered. A deal isn't as glorious as the total defeat of Hamas, but it is the bravery of a different kind, the bravery of doing the right thing, even if it's the harder decision to make," she continued.
"Please give the other families here the chance at returning their loved ones; for me, it is too late; for them, there is still a chance. Let these families and the entire nation that supports them have a better ending to this nightmare. Bring them home now!" she declared.
Hostage family Reaction to Gallant's war shift
Earlier, the Hostage Family Forum reacted to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant's remarks that the IDF has begun focusing on the North. They said that this focus means that Netanyahu is "abandoning the hostages to die in the tunnels," N12 reported.
Einav Zangauker, mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, stated, "We demand from the government: First, bring back the hostages. Expanding the war in the north without a deal is a death sentence for the hostages. Instead of bringing back 101 hostages, Netanyahu has abandoned them for the North."
"Everyone can see that the military's pressure is killing the hostages, and we all know there’s a deal ready to be signed. As long as Netanyahu remains in power, the war will go on forever, and there will be no deal. Netanyahu is the obstacle to the agreement," Zangauker added.
Police Intervention
Fifteen protesters have been arrested in Tel Aviv for disturbing the peace, Israeli Police announced Saturday night.
A police statement explained that during preliminary patrols, forces found waste materials intended for burning, such as tires, planks, and rafts.
“We reiterate that the freedom to protest and express oneself does not include the freedom to start fires, block main roads, disrupt the movement of many people, or break through police barriers.” the statement said.
Protestors reported a significant change in police conduct, claiming that a line of closely parked trucks had blocked most exits.
"I have been here for 74 of the last 76 demonstrations," a protester told Maariv. "This has never happened. They allowed the crowd to evacuate in all directions quickly. Suddenly, everything is blocked. They lost their minds."
According to Ynet, eight protesters have been arrested for blocking the roads, and another seven for possessing suspected combustible materials.
Following the arrests, police have announced that the roads have been reopened.