TEL AVIV, Israel — Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square on Saturday to honor the memory of the six hostages executed by Hamas terrorists in a tunnel in the Gaza Strip, marking the one-year anniversary of their deaths. Organizers estimated nearly 100,000 Israelis attended the commemorative event, with families of the victims calling on the government to secure a deal to bring their loved ones home. A large flag was unveiled, urging President Trump to ‘Make History.’
The six hostages, who were Eden Yerushalmi, Ori Danino, Carmel Gat, Almog Sarusi, Alexander Lobanov, and American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin, are remembered for their courage and the tragic loss of their lives. Their families, including Jon and Rachel Polin, the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, shared heartfelt messages expressing their grief and hope for a resolution to the hostage crisis. ‘He will always be 23. He was not perfect, although most of us parents want to believe that about our children. But he was, indeed, the perfect son for us. We are blessed to have had Hersh in our life. We only wish it had been for longer. Rest peacefully, sweet boy,’ said Jon and Rachel Polin on Fox News Digital.
The anniversary coincides with the beginning of Israel’s new offensive into Gaza City, which has led to a heated debate over the potential risks of military action to the remaining hostages, given the recent tragedy. The Hostage and Missing Families Forum warned that the stalled deal to secure the hostages remains a painful reminder of the lessons from last year. ‘This nightmare must end! For 694 days, our loved ones have endured hell, and we as a nation have lost all sense of direction. Escalating military pressure abandons the living hostages to their fate and leaves the bodies of those already dead buried forever in Gaza’s rubble,’ the forum stated.
On Friday, the IDF announced it had recovered the bodies of two hostages held by Palestinian terrorists in Gaza. Israeli estimates indicate that 48 captives remain in the Strip, with 20 believed to be alive. The developments are occurring as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that only a comprehensive ceasefire, ensuring the return of all hostages and ending the war on Israel’s terms, will be considered. ‘Most families want all hostages returned at once,’ said Tzvika Mor, father of hostage Eitan Mor and co-founder of the Tikva Forum, which advocates for a full deal contingent on the elimination of Hamas. ‘Here is where we are divided,’ Mor told Fox News Digital. ‘The Tikva Forum believes Hamas must be defeated and forced to surrender to Israel, while other families believe Israel must surrender to Hamas to rescue the hostages.’ Mor referenced the 1976 Entebbe rescue as an example, noting that although the outcome was uncertain at the time, Israelis widely believed the country had a duty to fight for its citizens rather than capitulate to terrorists. He argued that although military action carries risks, the far greater danger would be allowing Hamas to dictate terms after Oct. 7.
On Monday, Donald Trump suggested that the conflict would be wrapped up within weeks, and two days later, he chaired a meeting at the White House to discuss a comprehensive post-war plan for Gaza. U.S. special envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff told Fox News Tuesday that the Trump administration is aligned with Jerusalem against a partial deal. ‘There’s been a deal on the table for the last six or seven weeks that would have released 10 of the hostages out of the 20 that we think are alive, and it was Hamas who slow-played that process. And it is Hamas now who is saying we accept that deal. And I think in large part they are saying that and changing their mind because the Israelis are putting some very intense pressure on them,’ Witkoff said on Fox News’ ‘Special Report.’
Israeli Opposition Leader Yair Lapid told Fox News Digital that his Yesh Atid party supports a full comprehensive deal, which will include the return of all hostages and an end to the war. ‘If that deal isn’t possible,’ he continued, ‘then Israel should accept the partial deal that has been agreed to, which will give us time to achieve a full deal.’ Netanyahu told visiting Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, on Monday that the decision to expand the military campaign was ‘unequivocal.’ The situation highlights the complex and emotionally charged nature of the conflict, with the potential for both military action and diplomatic efforts to shape the outcome.