Large crowds of Israeli citizens protest, demanding the liberation of captives - Throngs of Israelis hit streets in protest for captives
The war in the Gaza Strip, which began on October 7, 2023, has been ongoing for nearly 22 months, claiming the lives of over 60,300 people according to Hamas authorities. The humanitarian situation in the Palestinian territory is dire, with more than a hundred aid organizations warning of "mass starvation."
The conflict was triggered by a brutal large-scale attack by Hamas on Israel. In the midst of this crisis, families of the hostages, including that of 21-year-old Nimrod Cohen, are calling for an end to the war and urging important allies like the USA to intervene.
Recent videos released by Hamas show the dire conditions of the remaining hostages, but there is no information in the current search results about any promises made by Steve Witkoff, the U.S. Special Envoy for the Middle East, or U.S. President Donald Trump to the Israeli hostage families regarding the release of hostages in the Gaza Strip.
However, it is known that Witkoff has been actively engaged in the issue, meeting with the Forum of Hostage Families, a representative body of relatives, in Tel Aviv. During these meetings, Witkoff is reported to have personally promised to work with President Trump for the release of the remaining hostages.
Witkoff's meetings with Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, have also been documented. Hundreds of people greeted Witkoff with applause and "Bring them home now" chants on the "Hostage Square."
One particularly disturbing video that caused outrage was that of 24-year-old Evyatar David, showing him emaciated in a tunnel interspersed with images of emaciated Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. David's family accused Hamas of deliberately starving their son for propaganda purposes.
According to Israeli reports, 1219 people were killed and 251 people were taken hostage to the Gaza Strip. At least 27 of the hostages have reportedly died according to army reports, leaving 49 hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip.
As the international community continues to watch the situation unfold, the hope remains for a peaceful resolution and the safe return of the remaining hostages.
The US Special Envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has pledged to work with President Donald Trump on the release of the remaining hostages in the Gaza Strip, following meetings with the Forum of Hostage Families and Israeli leaders. The ongoing war and conflict in the Gaza Strip, which has been ongoing for nearly 22 months, is also a topic of general news, politics, and crime-and-justice discussions, with tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrating for the release of the hostages.
