The declaration, issued on the war's 800th day through a coordinated effort with October Council (organization representing October 7 families), arrives as most abducted Israelis have returned from Gaza. Among those who signed: former captives Yarden Bibas, Arbel Yehoud, Luis Har, Gadi Moshe Mozes, and Amit Soussana, joined by scores of bereaved relatives.

"We demand truth. We demand justice. We demand accountability," the letter declared. "If you refuse to accept responsibility and convene such a commission as the majority of Israelis demand, vacate your positions and allow the people to choose."

The complete text: "Investigate everything"

"We – the freed hostages, families of survivors, relatives of slain captives, and those whose loved ones were seized alive only to be murdered in captivity – stand unified behind one unambiguous demand: the formation of an independent state commission of inquiry.

"Such a commission represents the sole mechanism capable of examining without intimidation, without favoritism, and without constraints the complete sequence of breakdowns that preceded the day of failure, events that transpired during the catastrophe, and every decision-making procedure concerning the hostages and war management.

"This commission must examine every dimension of that day, encompassing the disintegration of defense and intelligence operations, the unanswered pleas for assistance, the hours-long desertion of Gaza border communities, and the forsaking of civilians and soldiers to the nightmare that consumed Israeli soil.

"Equally critical, it must scrutinize developments since October 7: How authorities reached decisions during hostage negotiations, what caused recurring postponements, how diplomatic and military leadership coordinated, what public officials stated and enacted and how those choices affected captives' survival, their physical and psychological welfare, the destiny of those abducted alive but killed in captivity, and the extended period before deceased hostages reached their families. This, 799 days later with one slain hostage's body still detained – Ran Gvili.

"A commission of inquiry cannot serve political ends. It cannot include individuals who themselves require investigation. It must maintain transparency, professionalism, and complete authority to mandate evaluations, question witnesses, examine records, and deliver definitive findings including implementation powers. Only such an entity can uncover the full truth, not merely convenient revelations. Truth is not a privilege, but Israel's obligation to its citizens. Such truth provides the foundation for mending Israeli society, rebuilding confidence in governance, and constructing greater security for coming generations.

"Without truth-seeking, we cannot guarantee the October 7 catastrophe will never recur, and without accepting responsibility, we cannot properly commemorate those who perished, those who suffered abduction, and those remaining in Gaza.

"We challenge Israel's government to cease avoiding, cease postponing, cease concealing, and immediately authorize a comprehensive state commission of inquiry. Passing time exacts severe costs – corrupted testimony, suppressed evidence, incapacity to pursue truth, comprehend breakdowns, and counter falsehoods. This constitutes an essential, ethical, and fundamental action in democratic governance. We demand truth. We demand justice. We demand accountability. And we demand it immediately.

"If you do not intend to take responsibility and establish such a commission as demanded by the majority of the people, vacate your positions and let the people decide."

Those who signed the demand

Former captive Yarden Bibas, widower of Shiri Bibas and bereaved father of Ariel Bibas and Kfir Bibas, murdered in Hamas detention; freed hostage Arbel Yehoud; freed hostage Clara Marman; freed hostage Shiri Weiss, mother of freed hostage Noga Weiss and widow of slain hostage Ilan Weiss; freed hostage Shani Goren; freed hostage Ariel Cunio; freed hostage Sharon Aloni Cunio, mother of freed hostages Ema and Yuly Cunio and wife of freed hostage David Cunio.

Released captives David Cunio and Sagui Dekel Chen; freed hostage Daniel Aloni, mother of freed hostage Emilia Aloni; freed hostage Amit Soussana; freed hostage Yafa Adar; freed hostage Fernando Marman; freed hostage Raz Ben Ami; freed hostage Ohad Ben Ami; freed hostage Luis Har; freed hostage Ditza Heiman; freed hostage Margalit Mozes; freed hostage Keren Munder, mother of freed hostage Ohad Munder and daughter of freed hostage Ruth Munder and deceased captive Abraham Munder, killed in Hamas detention; freed hostage Gabriela Leimberg and mother of freed hostage Mia Leimberg; freed hostage Raya Rotem; freed hostage Norlin Babadilla; freed hostage Agam Goldstein; freed hostage Chen Almog Goldstein; Renana Gome Yaakov, mother of freed hostages Or Yaakov and Yagil Yaakov; Einav Zangauker, mother of freed hostage Matan Zangauker; Lishay Lavi, wife of freed hostage Omri Miran; Hirut Nimrodi, mother of slain hostage Tamir Nimrodi.

Rishel Tzarfati, mother of deceased captive Ofir Tzarfati; Esther and Oren Buchshtab, parents of freed hostage Yagev Buchshtab; Anat Angrest, mother of freed hostage Matan Angrest; Nofar Buchshtab, sister of freed hostage Yagev Buchshtab; John and Rachel Goldberg-Polin, parents of slain hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin; Oksana Lobanov, mother of Alex Lobanov, killed in Hamas detention; Nira Sarusi, mother of Almog Sarusi, killed in Hamas detention; Ruby Chen, father of deceased captive Itay Chen; Eli and Shira Albag, parents of freed hostage Liri Albag; Asnat Peri, widow of Haim Peri, killed in Hamas detention; Asif and Gal Goren, children of Mia Goren, killed in Hamas detention; Tal Shani, mother of freed hostage Amit Shani; Orly Gilboa, mother of freed hostage Daniella Gilboa; Amir and Mirav Daniel, parents of deceased captive Oz Daniel; Reuma Arusi Tarshansky, mother of freed hostage Gali Tarshansky; Nira Sharabi, widow of slain hostage Yossi Sharabi, killed in Hamas detention.

Orna and Ronen Neutra, parents of Omer Neutra; Boaz, son of captive Arie Zalmanowicz, killed in Hamas detention; Irina Ariev, mother of freed hostage Karina Ariev; Dafna Shay Heiman, daughter of freed hostage Ditza Heiman; Maayan Sherman, mother of Ron Sherman, killed in Hamas detention; Ronen and Orna Neutra, parents of slain hostage Omer Neutra; Yuval Danzig, son of deceased captive Alex Danzig, killed in Hamas detention; Dvora Idan, mother of slain hostage Tsachi Idan, killed in Hamas detention; Ayelet Svatitzky, sister of deceased Nirim resident Roi Popplewell and sister of Nadav Popplewell, abducted and killed in captivity, and daughter of freed hostage Hanna Peri; Dana Or, mother of freed hostage Liam Or and sister of slain hostage Dror Or; Talma Atzili, mother of deceased captive Aviv Atzili; Ram and Guy Metzger, sons of Yoram Metzger, killed in detention, and freed hostage Tami Metzger; Sharon Lifshitz, daughter of Oded Lifshitz, killed in detention, and freed hostage Yocheved Lifshitz; Sharon, sister of Eden Yerushalmi, killed in detention; Yael Adar, mother of slain hostage Tamir Adar; Rani Goldin, brother of deceased captive Oren Goldin; Dalit Oron, mother of slain hostage Idan Shtivi; Efrat Avsker Yahalomi, sister of deceased captive Ohad Yahalomi, killed in Hamas detention; Shahar Levy, son of slain hostage Eitan Levy; Nisan Kalderon, brother of freed hostage Ofer Kalderon and uncle of freed hostages Sahar and Erez; Yitzhak Horn, father of freed hostages Yair Horn and Eitan Horn; Lee Segal, sister of freed hostage Keith Segal.

Yonatan Dekel-Chen, father of freed hostage Sagui Dekel-Chen; Yoav and Yonit Engel, parents of freed hostage Ofir Engel; Rotem Cooper, daughter of deceased captive Amiram Cooper, killed in Hamas detention; Chen Avigdori, husband of freed hostage Sharon Avigdori and father of freed hostage Noam Avigdori; Moshe Katz, father of freed hostage Doron Katz, abducted with daughters Raz and Aviv; Avital Kirsht, mother of freed hostage Rimon Kirsht; Aviram Meir, relative of freed hostage Almog Meir Jan; Maayan Segal-Koren, five of whose relatives survived detention, alongside scores of additional freed hostages and relatives.

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Video: Alon Ohel performing at Hostage Square on November 19, 2025 / Credit: Hostages and Missing Families Forum

Ohel, a gifted pianist who returned from captivity on October 13, wrote on an erasable board while on the helicopter to the hospital the words "Song Without a Name." This was the last song he played on the piano in his room before leaving for the Nova Festival, which was written and composed by Shalom Hanoch and originally performed by Yehudit Ravitz.

Prior to his release, medical authorities sounded the alarm that intelligence from released other hostages suggested Ohel might be losing his vision. According to information disclosed on Kan Reshet B, reports from freed captives indicate Ohel has sustained shrapnel injuries to his eye and can only detect shadows with one eye. Medical sources indicate that based on survivor testimonies, he risked losing vision in both eyes. After his return, and upon medical evaluation it was confirmed that his right-eye sight was severely compromised.

He underwent several complex procedures and doctors have been optimistic that his condition would allow his vision to be partially restored despite the circumstances, explaining that the surgery would have normally been done immediately after such an injury in order to be effective and that his conditions in captivity without proper food and sunlight may have hurt his medical parameters.

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Hadar Goldin, 23 at the time of his death, was a fallen captive soldier abducted by the Hamas terrorist organization during the operation. He had been held in captivity since August 1, 2014—more than 11 years. His parents, Leah and Simcha Goldin, waged a years-long battle for his return for burial in Israel, launching their campaign to bring home Israeli hostages long before most of the country fully grasped its significance.

Hadar was born in February 1991 in Ashhar, a mixed religious and secular community. He arrived as a younger brother to Ayelet and to Hemi. Hadar, the elder of twins, waited patiently for five minutes outside the womb until his twin brother, Tzur, was born. Together, the brothers won the hearts of their kindergarten teachers and instructors. They learned to play music, paint and sculpt, attended the Bnei Akiva youth movement—first as participants, later as counselors—and went on together to the Bnei David pre-military academy in Eli.

An outstanding officer

Hadar enlisted in the Givati Brigade and was accepted into the reconnaissance battalion. He excelled throughout his service and fulfilled his ambition of becoming a team commander in the elite unit. He was engaged to his fiancée, Edna, and the two had set a date for their wedding.

In June 2014, Israel launched Operation Protective Edge against Hamas in Gaza. Hadar went into battle and never returned. He was killed and abducted during a ceasefire, in an operation to locate tunnels intended for the massacre of residents of southern Israel.

Declared fallen, his body remained in Gaza

On August 1, 2014, during combat with terrorists who emerged from a tunnel, the reconnaissance company commander, Maj. Benaya Sarel, Lt. Hadar Goldin and Staff Sgt. Liel Gidoni were killed. Hadar was dragged into a nearby tunnel by terrorists. The IDF chief rabbi later declared him fallen in battle. His grave was established at the military cemetery in Kfar Saba, though his body was held in Gaza, untill now.

Hadar, through his smile, his paintings, his writings, and in the hearts of his family, students and soldiers, left behind a legacy rooted in love for humanity. He forbade his soldiers to curse, devoted himself to helping those in need, and did everything he could to bring together the diverse people of this land—religious and secular alike. "You have two options: either focus on yourself, or do something better," Hadar once said.

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Their caskets were transferred by Hamas in the afternoon to the Red Cross, which then handed them over to the IDF for formal identification. This marks the first return of deceased hostage from the Gaza Strip in more than a week.

Amiram Cooper: Founding member of Nir Oz and poet

Amiram Cooper was kidnapped along with his wife Nurit during Hamas' brutal surprise assault on Israel on October 7, 2023. Seventeen days later, Nurit was released and was able to relay that Amiram and several others from Kibbutz Nir Oz were still alive. During his time in captivity, a video was published showing Cooper alongside fellow hostages Chaim Peri and Yoram Metzger, all alive at the time. On June 3, 2024, the Israel Defense Forces announced Cooper had been murdered in captivity. He was 79.

For Cooper and his wife, Kibbutz Nir Oz was more than home, they were among its founders and had lived there for over 60 years. Together they raised a family and enjoyed time with their children and grandchildren, exploring the kibbutz in their mobility scooter, relaxing at the pool, working in the communal vegetable garden, and walking the fields.

Cooper was a Holocaust survivor; all of his extended family had been murdered during the Shoah. A visionary and a man of letters, he wrote, composed and published three volumes of poetry, expressing his deep love for nature, agriculture and kibbutz life. He held key roles within the kibbutz and region, including kibbutz secretary, manager of the Nirlat factory, and financial director for the communities of the Maon region.

Sahar Baruch: Science fiction fan and gifted chess player

Sahar Baruch, 25, from Kibbutz Be'eri, was kidnapped from his home by Hamas terrorists and murdered in captivity. His brother, Idan, was also killed on October 7. They are survived by their parents, Tami and Roni, and siblings, Guy and Niv.

The announcement of Sahar's death came on December 9, 2023. A month later, the IDF reported that he had died during a rescue attempt. While it remains unclear whether he was killed by Hamas or in crossfire during the operation, the IDF confirmed he was present at the site during the military action.

His aunt, Merav Barkai, recalled: "Sahar was murdered at 25. He had a birthday while in captivity. He was enrolled to begin studies at Ben-Gurion University, but never got to attend a single day. The Wednesday after October 7, we were supposed to go apartment hunting in Beersheba and explore the campus cafeterias. His classes were set to start that Sunday."

Just a month before the attack, he had returned from a long trip through South America. Before that, he had hiked parts of the Israel National Trail. Baruch was an excellent chess player and a fan of science fiction and anime. "He was sharp, smart and rational, with a silly sense of humor," his aunt added.

In a statement, Kibbutz Be'eri said: "Kibbutz Be'eri embraces Tami and Roni, their sons Guy and Niv, and the entire family, who worked tirelessly to bring Sahar home for burial in Israel. In this painful moment, we hope they find some solace in the fact that a 755-day nightmare has finally come to an end."

Kibbutz Nir Oz released a statement as well: "On October 7, during those hours of failure, 76 people were kidnapped from Nir Oz and our home became a site of tragedy. Since then, our community has relived that terrible day and fought for the return of all the hostages. Now, with the return of the last hostage from the kibbutz, we can begin to process, to recover, and to mourn the 65 loved ones who will never come back."

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The post appeared after testimonies emerged from flotilla personnel arriving from Europe. Hairston wrote, "Just as murderers and rapists possess a right to exist in prison, so the Israeli leadership deserves long lives behind bars." She continued, "The testimonies of the detainees from the flotilla are horrifying. The genocide state in full display – beatings, being held kneeling with hands cuffed behind the back for hours, denial of medical treatment, degrading treatment, and threats. Not to mention that abducting the people from the flotilla in international waters constitutes a violation of international maritime law."

Tel-Hai College issued a response, "The lecturer's serious statements were written on her personal account and do not represent the position of Tel-Hai Academic College as an academic institution. Tel-Hai Academic College stands proudly with Israeli Air Force soldiers and security forces and thanks them for their dedication and protection of the State of Israel and its citizens. Many of our students served in the reserves during the past two years. During this period, as we return with excitement to our northern campuses after more than two years, the opening of the academic year represents the resilience of the region and Tel-Hai's deep commitment to the Galilee community and Israeli society."

Professors for a Strong Israel issued a statement, "Israeli academia must not function as a sanctuary for lecturers who slander the State of Israel. Following Dr. Ilana Hairston's statements from Tel-Hai College, comparing the State of Israel to the Third Reich, Professors for a Strong Israel warns that this represents a serious and persistent phenomenon of lecturers in higher education institutions who abuse freedom of expression to damage the State of Israel and Israeli Air Force soldiers."

Shachar Yifrach, chairman of the Tel-Hai Student Union, stated, "Dr. Ilana Hairston's post crosses a red line both clearly and publicly. The union vigorously condemns these statements. Comparing the State of Israel to the Third Reich is a perilous comparison that damages Holocaust memory and harms reserve soldiers, including our students who risked their lives for the state. The union adopted the IHRA definition against antisemitism last year, and we invite the college and other institutions nationwide to adopt the definition as we have."

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Arie, called "Zalman," was father to two sons and grandfather to five grandchildren. Throughout his life he was a man of the soil who worked in agriculture and field crops, and specialized in cultivating wheat under the difficult Negev conditions. He was a countryside person with broad knowledge of history and the Land of Israel.

"I witnessed his murder"

The rescue of a living hostage revealed what the killers did to Zalman in captivity. The hostage Farhan Qadi, rescued from a tunnel in the southern Strip through a complex operation, described that soon after the abduction he was moved to an apartment rather than a tunnel, and there he witnessed one of his fellow captives dying, as the terrorists recorded it.

"Right after that they recorded me as well, and then I witnessed his murder," Farhan stated. It later emerged that this was Arie Zalmanowicz.

Approximately 40 days following his abduction, Hamas released a 28-second video showing Zalmanowicz lying on a bed, attached to a monitor and saying he doesn't feel well. Subsequently Arie appears motionless and covered in a white sheet.

On Saturday October 7, Zalman awoke at 6:29 a.m. to a "Color Red" alert indicating there were incoming projectiles. He conversed multiple times with his family and informed them about the situation. He even prepared himself a cup of coffee, which stayed behind in the safe room as a mute witness.

Near 10:00 a.m. the terrorists broke into his home. They smashed the safe room door, struck him on the head with a club, aimed a gun at his temple and offered him a choice between dying immediately or being taken captive. Zalman, despite being an elderly and unwell man, chose life and resolved to mount the motorcycle with the terrorists toward Gaza.

In the "There Were Homes There" project by Israel Hayom commemorating two years since October 7, his family described him: His wife Ruth died many years earlier and he resided alone. Agriculture formed the core of his life and activities. Zalman was a conversationalist with broad knowledge of history and the Land of Israel and possessed a remarkable stamp collection. He was an honest, modest, self-reliant worker, an idealist who rarely showed his emotions. Zalman viewed the kibbutz as his life's fulfillment and his home, and the community as his family.

In captivity Zalman struggled to survive without medicine and food. He remained with several friends from Nir Oz and other locations. They told the family about his final terrible days, and his family hopes their presence helped alleviate somewhat his suffering and isolation.

Tamir was a family person

Tamir Adar (38), married to Hadas and father to Asaf and Neta. Third generation in Kibbutz Nir Oz, the kibbutz's first grandson.

As part of Nir Oz's standby squad, Tamir departed his home to protect the kibbutz on October 7's morning. During a courageous battle he waged with his friends he sustained very serious wounds, was taken captive and didn't survive the injury. The death announcement came in January 2024. His grandmother, Yafa Adar, was likewise abducted and released from captivity in the initial hostage agreement.

Tamir was a family person, someone who loved people and nature, a farmer and educator professionally. A person of dialogue, possessing broad knowledge about nearly every topic. He was a dedicated supporter of Maccabi Tel Aviv, constantly surrounded by friends and beloved by all.

He was someone of nature, wide spaces, music and dancing. He greatly loved birds of prey and would observe them with binoculars while working the fields and during trips. He felt renewed excitement each morning from watching sunrises and enjoyed viewing the sunset with Hadas and the children from Nir Oz's fields.

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Enat Angrest revealed that the terrorists debated whether it was "worth keeping him alive or giving up on him" because of his severe injury. In a video the family released from October 7, Angrest is shown being extracted from the tank, bent and kneeling on the ground, his military shirt pulled up and his chest exposed, being guided and held by terrorists.

Angrest added that the terrorists informed Matan they saw her on television and that she was "very dominant in the struggle" to bring him home. "Matan didn't know that an entire nation was crying and waiting for them. He believed there was a protest here and a protest there. He wasn't aware of the intensity of the publicity."

She also stated her son told her "I did what was expected of me as a soldier" and that he is proud of his decision to fight that morning, and that he considered the possibility he would be abducted.

Earlier, Matan and Einat met with President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and Special Envoy for Middle East Steve Witkoff. They presented Witkoff with a photograph from Kiryat Bialik Mayor Eli Dukorsky of the city's soccer stadium that will be named after Trump. Matan is a resident of the city.

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Haimi's family received notification on December 13, 2023, that he had been murdered on Oct. 7, 2023 after being classified as abducted since the Hamas attack.

Tal was a third-generation founder of Kibbutz Nir-Yitzhak and was connected with every fiber of his being to the kibbutz and served as one of the community's pillars. On October 7, Tal, part of the security team of his town, confronted the terrorists who had entered his kibbutz. He was murdered alongside his unit partner, Lior Rudaeff, and their bodies were abducted to Gaza. His family and friends recounted that he was always first to help, to lend a hand, and to bring calm and security to everyone around him.

Tal left behind his wife Ela, three children – 9-year-old twins and a 6-year-old son, his father Zahar and his sister Or. His wife was pregnant when he was abducted. In May 2024, she gave birth to their fourth child.

His family chose to conduct a funeral for him even before he was returned to Israel, when his wife Elah eulogized him: "My Tal, the thing most distant from you is that I would stand and speak in such a forum about me and you and us. But I must say goodbye. On October 7, part of me also died. Disintegrated. And now I need to rebuild. Trying to think about the life we had and what I am without you. After all, we were together more years than apart. I didn't go out to any challenge without you by my side. How much stability you brought into my life. You made me who I am. Everything they say about you – the quiet, the serenity, the composure and the wisdom – that's also what you were at home and many times over. The absence is enormous. You left me four gifts in your image. And I promise you here that this will be a happy home full of life."

She addressed her children and said: "Einav, Nir and Udi, your father was killed doing what he believed in more than anything – he protected us and the kibbutz, a kibbutz where he grew up and raised a family. He didn't hesitate for a moment when he left the house that morning."

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The Prime Minister's Office stated, "IDF representatives informed the family of hostage Sonthaya Oakkharasr, of blessed memory, that their loved one has been returned to Israel and his identification has been completed. The Government of Israel shares in the deep sorrow of the Oakkharasr family, the people of Thailand and all the families of the fallen hostages. The Government and the entire establishment for the missing and the captives of the State of Israel are determined, committed, and working tirelessly to return all of our fallen hostages for proper burial in their country. The Hamas terrorist organization is required to uphold its commitments to the mediators and return them as part of the implementation of the agreement. We will not compromise on this and will spare no effort until we return all of the fallen hostages, every last one of them. May his memory be for a blessing.

Following the completion of the identification process, the additional deceased hostage who was returned is Suntaya Akrasi.

According to the information and intelligence available to the IDF: Suntaya Akrasi, a Thai citizen, was murdered by the Hamas terrorist organization on… pic.twitter.com/y4yR2JemMa

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) October 19, 2025

The IDF Spokesperson stated, "Following the completion of the identification process, the additional deceased hostage who was returned is Sonthaya Oakkharasr. According to the information and intelligence available to the IDF: Sonthaya Oakkharasr, a Thai citizen, was murdered by the Hamas terrorist organization on October 7th, 2023, and his body was taken into Gaza. Oakkharasr, 30 years old at the time of his death, was abducted from the orchards of Kibbutz Be'eri. His death was pronounced on May 16th, 2024. The IDF expresses deep condolences to the family, and continues to make every effort to return all the deceased hostages. Hamas is required to fulfill its part of the agreement and make the necessary efforts to return all the hostages to their families and to a dignified burial."

In an interview Oakkharasr's mother gave to BBC in 2024, she described receiving a phone call when she took the buffalo to the field. "I received a phone call from a foreign number starting with a plus sign. I was happy, I thought perhaps there was good news. But when I learned it was bad news, we just stood there, my husband and I, we held hands and cried together in the middle of the field."

Oakkharasr was among eight Thai hostages abducted on October 7, 2023, by Hamas. The call the family received from an Israeli Foreign Ministry official on May 16, 2024, was only official confirmation that their eldest son was killed on the day of the massacre, when Hamas attacked the agricultural area in Israel where he worked and was captured. He was supposed to complete his five-year work contract in October 2023 and return to his village home but never made it.

The statement from the Hostages, Returnees and Missing Persons Administration in the Prime Minister's Office stated, "The Hostages, Returnees and Missing Persons Administration in the Prime Minister's Office bows its head and shares the grief of the Engel family, with the return for burial in Israel of Ronen, may his memory be blessed, and also in the grief of the family of Thai citizen Sonthaya Oakkharasr, may his memory be blessed. The Administration will continue to accompany their families, together with the other families. We long for the swift return home of all the remaining 16 hostages."

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In a statement, the families said: "The agreement to bring the hostages home is now being blatantly violated. Our struggle is not over. Eighteen hostages are still in Hamas captivity. Our moral, ethical, and national obligation is to bring them all home, every last one. Their return is a prerequisite for true Israeli recovery and rebuilding."

They continued: "It is our responsibility, the people of Israel, to ensure the full implementation of the deal. Its violation must be met with a firm response by the government and the mediators. We cannot let history repeat itself. A nation that abandons its fallen, abandons its future."

Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan Zangauker survived Hamas captivity, opened her remarks with gratitude: "Matan, our Matan, is home. Right now he is sitting in the living room watching you, the people of Israel, with a heart full of thanks." She thanked the public for the determination and faith that "brought her son back," but stressed: "Our struggle is not over, it will end only when every hostage is returned and laid to rest with dignity."

Zangauker sharply criticized the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom she held responsible for "the October 7 disaster and the ongoing failure to bring the hostages back." She added: "They are responsible for children being kidnapped from their beds, for soldiers falling again and again in the same places, and for a nightmare that has continued for two years." She called for the establishment of a state commission of inquiry and demanded that those responsible "step down and be held accountable."

Orna Neutra, mother of Capt. Omer Neutra, spoke of her son as "a dedicated fighter" raised on the values of mutual responsibility, love of the land, and loyalty to the state. She described the battle in which Omer was critically wounded and said he saved his comrades' lives before being taken to Gaza, where he died from his wounds a week before his 22nd birthday. The family has been waiting for more than two years to bring him home for burial.

She urged the Israeli government and the public to continue fighting for all hostages and fallen Israelis: "A grave for our loved ones is not a right, it is the moral duty of the state." She criticized those trying to erase the hostages from public consciousness and concluded: "We will not rest, we will not be silent until the last hostage is returned. A nation that remembers its living hostages, a nation that brings back its living hostages, the people of Israel live."

Ayelet Goldin, who has fought for 11 years to bring back her brother Hadar, said: "The deal brought 20 miracles, but 18 hostages are currently being abandoned." She warned against the emerging narrative that "everything possible was done." Goldin criticized past agreements and policy decisions that she believes fostered abandonment, citing previous cases as warnings: "The script is already being written."

She called on the public and Israeli citizens not to accept the "we did everything" narrative, and to uphold values and symbols. This, she said, is "the last and hardest battle of all." She stressed that Hadar is still a hostage, that 18 hostages remain in captivity, and issued a clear call: do not fall asleep at the watch, keep fighting until everyone is brought home.

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