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On Saturday, thousands of people took to the streets of Tel Aviv donald trumpTop Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, son-in-law Jared Kushner and daughter Ivanka Trump The hostages were taken to the stage, promising that they were “coming home”.
Family of some 48 hostages and detainees still remain in Gaza told Independent They were “holding their breath” Hamas given 72-hour deadline to begin handover Was going on.
There was a lot of uproar even in the huge rally benjamin netanyahu Thousands of people disrupted Mr Witkoff’s speech, provoking Israel for failing to achieve a quick agreement Prime Minister,
Under the Armistice Agreement, first proposed by the US President donald trump, Hamas The terrorists have until Monday afternoon to begin the release of the 20 surviving hostages and the remains of 28 others.
In exchange, about 2,000 Palestinians held in Israeli prisons will be released – and if the ceasefire holds, the remains of Palestinians held by Israel will also be returned.
Mr Witkoff, Mr Kushner and Ms Trump visited Israel and even an Israeli base in Gaza on Saturday in an apparent show of strength to push the deal. Mr Trump himself is expected to fly to Israel on Monday as the deadline approaches, some sources said Independent He may also travel to southern Israel to personally welcome those released.
Addressing a huge crowd in Tel Aviv on Saturday night, a visibly emotional Mr Witkoff said he had “dreamed of this night – it’s been a long journey”. The crowd in front of him chanted “Bring them home now”, “We want peace” and “Thank you Trump”, holding signs emblazoned with Mr Trump’s face, with some calling for him to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
“We are celebrating something extraordinary, a moment that many thought was impossible… a miracle may happen,” Mr. Witkoff said of the agreement, adding that the hostages were “coming home.”
He concluded to cheers and applause by calling Mr Trump “the greatest president the world has ever seen”.
Joining him on stage, Ms Trump and Mr Kushner, who appeared tearful at one point, said he would “celebrate on Monday when phase one comes to a close”.
Israel launched an unprecedented bombardment and siege of Gaza on 7 October 2023 following Hamas’s bloody attacks on southern Israel, where, according to Israeli estimates, more than 1,100 people were killed and 251 captured. mortgage,
In the two years since then, Palestinian health officials say more than 67,000 people have died, including thousands of children. Most of Gaza has been destroyedMore than 90 percent of the 23 lakh strong population has been forced to flee their homes multiple times; And according to the UN-backed Global Hunger Monitor, famine has loomed.
On Saturday, as the weapons fell silent, thousands of Palestinians began a temporary journey into the heavily destroyed north – only in many areas, entire cities turned into dustAid officials have told Independent The humanitarian need is unprecedented, and approximately 1,000 trucks of food supplies, medicines and other essential goods are needed every day.
After Mr. Trump’s announcement, everyone is waiting for the news whether the ceasefire will hold or not peace agreement This week, it was heralded as a “significant breakthrough” that would bring “lasting, hopefully lasting peace… to the Middle East.”
The agreement will include an exchange of hostages, prisoners and Palestinian prisoners, as well as an increase in aid. Israeli forces have also withdrawn to the “Yellow Line”, leaving them with control of more than 50 percent of the still-ravaged, besieged strip. The hostages are expected to be handed over by Monday afternoon.
But in Israel, Family The hostages fear it will falter at the eleventh hour after several ceasefires were broken. Many accuse Mr. Netanyahu of prioritizing war to satisfy his far-right coalition and thus preserve his political career.
When Mr. Witkoff mentioned Mr. Netanyahu, the crowd began booing so loudly that he had to interrupt his speech and request that they let him finish his sentence.
84-year-old Amiram’s son Rotem Cooper is present at the rallies. mortgage Those who died during four months of captivity in Gaza spoke of the anger that 42 of the 251 hostages have died in captivity because deals were not made on time.
Amiram was seized from Kibbutz Nir Oz along with his wife Nurit, who was later released in a deal.
Mr Cooper, who lives in San Diego, spoke of families being on a “rollercoaster” of emotions and “holding their breath”.
“My father was 84 years old. He should have got out of there sooner… This is not going to end for us because we want an investigation,” he said. Independent,
“This achievement, this agreement is not because of Israel Prime MinisterThis is despite the Israeli Prime Minister. And the credit for this goes to the American administration, especially Trump.”
Echoes of thanks and disappointment that the deal had not faltered were repeated on the stage in Tel Aviv. Yael Sbraigo, the niece of Lior Rudeff, a 61-year-old volunteer doctor whose body is in Hamas’s possession, pleaded with Mr Trump, “Please don’t stop now”.
“Don’t rest until [the] The last hostage is back,” she said, echoing the frustration in the crowd. ”Thanks Trump,” she said.
Additional reporting by Elon Eisenberg