Families of hostages call for mass protest on Tuesday across the country for the return of the 50 male and female hostages, 690 days after their kidnapping. The protest will be at intersections across the country and will reach its peak at a large event at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, as part of what the families call a "massive civil solidarity day."
The hostage families announced an escalation of the struggle to return their loved ones after the mass stoppage day that took place last Sunday. "An absolute majority of the people of Israel wants to bring our loved ones home," the families stated. "Deliberate torpedoing of an agreement for their return is against the will of the people and its basic values – mutual responsibility and fellowship. This is the Israeli ethos – this is our duty."
Among the events expected tomorrow are the unfurling of giant flags in front of the US Embassy in Tel Aviv, hostage family statements to the media, resistance actions at intersections across the country, a massive march led by hostage families to Hostages Square, and a mass rally at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv.
Over the weekend, hundreds of activists across the country took to main roads in protest for the hostages and demanded the signing of a comprehensive agreement for their return and ending the war. Activists blocked the Ayalon Highway from both sides near the Shalom Interchange, set up a "Shabbat table" with yellow chairs and a white tablecloth in the center of the road, and set it on fire. The road was blocked for about half an hour.
Last Sunday, a comprehensive day of protest was held for the return of the hostages. The protest included demonstrations at intersections, in companies and organizations, and reached its peak at a large event at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv. The families announced that "the stoppage day that was on Sunday is just the beginning." They added that they "call on the people of Israel to join en masse next Tuesday for a massive civil solidarity day."
