Relatives of Israeli hostages cry out across the Gaza border, denouncing Hamas and urging a ceasefire to bring their loved ones home

Shouts of love, pain, and desperation echoed across the Gaza border on Sunday as dozens of families of Israeli hostages gathered near Kibbutz Nir Oz. Holding loudspeakers and photos, they pleaded with their captive relatives held by Hamas, demanding their immediate release and slamming the Israeli government for failing them.

It was a gut-wrenching display of grief and hope. Menashe Harush, uncle of hostage Elkana Bohbot, railed against a Hamas propaganda video released a day earlier. It showed his nephew, gaunt and pale, speaking in a staged call to his wife and son. Harush didn’t mince words, calling it “obscene” and saying the hostages must be freed in one go, not in phases. “We don’t have time to wait. Every day is dangerous,” he said.

On stage, Yehuda Cohen, whose son Nimrod is among the captives, turned his anger toward Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “We know there’s no chance you’ll hear us 40 metres underground,” he said, speaking as if to his son. “But the one who is hearing this is the one responsible for you being there.” Accusing Netanyahu of prolonging the war to protect his political future, Cohen declared, “Netanyahu, resign! You’ve failed.”

He then addressed U.S. President Donald Trump in English, pleading for intervention. “Force Netanyahu to end this bloody war… so we can get our loved ones back home,” he implored.

The emotional torrent continued as other family members addressed their loved ones directly. Vicky Cohen, Nimrod’s mother, cried out, “Your room and your friends are waiting. Don’t lose hope — we will bring you home.”

Lishay Lavi-Miran, whose husband Omri is still held in Gaza, shared the toll of captivity on their young daughters. “Every morning, Roni and Alma ask, ‘When will daddy come back from Gaza?’” she said. “I don’t have an answer. But I promise, you’ll hear the word ‘daddy’ again. You’ll hug them — not just in dreams.”

She recounted how her daughter, Roni, had woken up smiling the night before, convinced she had been hugged by her father in a dream. “I know you’re holding on. Just a little longer.”

Varda Ben Baruch, grandmother of American-Israeli soldier Edan Alexander, recalled the family’s brief glimpse of hope when a message from him reached them on the first night of Passover. But “nothing is okay,” she said. “Though I am tired, I’m not giving up. A grandma doesn’t give up on her grandson!”

Freed hostage Ilana Gritzewsky, whose partner Matan Zangauker remains captive, cried out to him in Hebrew and Arabic. “I’m tired of waking up to an empty bed. My soul is with you in the tunnel,” she said. “Don’t lose your light… I love you, and you are coming back, I promise.”

Despite the anguish on display, Israeli officials remain firm. Netanyahu’s spokesman, Omer Dostri, dismissed the idea of a single comprehensive deal to return all hostages as “spin,” blaming Hamas for demanding a complete end to the war — a condition Israel refuses.

Later, Netanyahu reiterated that the war would not end until Hamas is dismantled. Critics argue this strategy puts hostages at greater risk and offers no viable path forward after more than 15 months of conflict.

As of now, 59 hostages remain in Gaza, including 24 believed to be alive and once scheduled for release in a now-collapsed ceasefire deal. At least 35 are presumed dead. With negotiations stalled, families continue to wait, shouting across the void in the hope their voices still carry.