On the evening of one wind in Jerusalem, a few dozen protesters gathered in front of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office.
According to reports, the protest took place on a brief notice as Israel’s most high ranked politicians were taking place in the same building at the same time, discussing the most recent developments in indirect talks with Palestinian terrorists, some Israeli hosting will return to a ceasefire deal on a ceasefire deal.
Some protesters held a large air balloon above their head in the shape of the yellow ribbon, the symbol called by campaigners to release the hostages. There were white stickers on the balloon, on which various numbers were written with a black marker pen: 155, 344, 356.
The thesis number represents the number of days since October 7, 2023, when the hostage was taken. It began when Rachel Goldberg-Poly, whose son Harsh was murdered by Hamas in Gaza in August 2024, appeared in an interview with a sticker and to increase the number of numbers on him for the plight of the hostage. By July 2025, this number has exceeded 650.
“The era of selection is over,” reads one of one indication, mentioning the choice process that determines who will be released and who will have to live in the tunnels of Gaza until another deal is done.
Hostage killed while waiting for the deal
The story of Carmel Gat shows how important the risk is for the life of a hostage in Gaza.
GAT was kidnapped from her home during infiltration in southern Israel that Hamas led Hamas on 7 October 2023. Israel, the United States, the European Union and other designations Hamas, a terrorist group.
He was considered one of those issued as part of the first mortgage deal between Israel and Hamas in November 2023, with more than 100 captives and 240 Palestinian prisoners in Gaza Freed. But when the Trus collapsed, she remained in Hamas’s captivity.
After GAT survives for 328 days, the Israeli soldiers found him and five other Israeli hostages dead in a tunnel in southern Gaza – the dead body examination report revealed that he and other hostages were shot at the border. Gat was 40 years old.
Her cousin, Gill Dickman, has become one of the most vocal supporters of a deal for the release of the remaining hostages. He told DW that the current situation of the conversation looks like “Deja Wu”.
“A year ago (in July 2024), several families of hostages were with Netanyahu at Washington, DC, including only differences that Carmel and five other hostages were brought back,” Dickman recalled.
“Carmel could come back Netanyahu made the right call.”
Wrong under the leadership of Israel
Yahuda Cohen’s son, Nimrode, is one of the 20 hostages who are still alive – 30 others are considered dead. In a conversation with DW, Yahuda Cohen underlined how he lost his trust that the Israeli government would bring hostage homes.
“I have no faith in my government, I don’t trust Netanyahu,” hey said. “I only trust the US administration that it will force Netanyahu to seal a deal.”
It is expected – that the US can forces through a deal yet – is prevalent among campaigners in Israel. In protests in Jerusalem, several signs called US President Donald Trump to bring hostage home anytime in their power to bring hostage home.
List of reasons for mistrust ‘very long’
The Cohen Netanyahu government lists causes of mistrust, including the urge on Israel in the Philadelfi Corridor, a narrow strip of land on the border between Gaza Strip and Egypt, and Netanyahu’s colleagues allegedly leaked classified documents. PictureA German tabloid to influence public opinion in Israel in favor of Netanyahu government’s position.
According to Cohen, the list of reasons for hostage families is “very long” to not trust the Israeli government.
While Netanyahu told the family members of the hostages that there was never an option to bring all the hostages home in a deal “never an option,” Hamas officials on several occasions stressed their interest in a deal, saying that wood returns the remaining hostages and indicates the ant in the war in Gaza.
“This is our government that emphasizes a selection process among hostages,” Dickman says, “it is called painful for opaque”.
Nevertheless, both Cohen and Dickman agree that any deal bringing the hostage is a good thing. “Even a partial deal means that my son’s turn is getting closer,” Cohen said.
Israeli ethos in balance
The Israeli public has no stranger for the hostage situation, whether it was a Black September organization, Hamas kidnapping and the 1994 killing of Israeli military Vachsman in 1994 or the kidnapping of Gilad Shalit in 2006, Sabaa Flight 171 kidnapped in 1972.
As a result, the principles that have been left behind have been deeply inherent in the Israeli society over the years. Dickman believes that while the Israeli public supports this ethos, the same cannot be said about the government of the country.
“This is a government controlled by those whose ethos, in my view, more jihadi than Israel, said,” Especially referring to far-flung parts of Netanyahu’s alliance, mainly Minister Itmar Ben-Gwir and Finance Minister Bezlel Smotrich, who want both of them to leave the Gajj and Jewish Basera. “
“Their goals include land, not human life, and they consider their goals to be sacred,” they say, saying that the demand for 50 hostages to return is about Israel’s future.
“It is about whether this country will be ready to sacrifice life, your so-called ‘holy’ goal, or rather a country where life is sacred.”
Yahuda Cohen hit a uniform voice: “We have a Prime Minister who are only one committees,” Heer said. “You have people in this government who openly support those who misuse the prisoners, resulting in a threat to a revenge against my son. There is no solidarity in this society; it is everyone.”
Yahuda Cohen is the only way to bring his son home, to continue fighting for the release and end of the war, whether he is talking to the media or opposing Netanyahu’s office.
Edited by: Davis Vanopadorp, Ben Night
