Second festival of freedom since Oct. 7 comes as Israel submits softened proposal to renew Gaza truce-ceasefire deal, amid reported slow-down in talks under Ron Dermer
Families of Hamas-held captives and their supporters held a public Passover Seder in Tel Aviv Saturday night, as Israel scaled back demands in talks to renew the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, amid reports that negotiations had slowed down under Jerusalem’s new point man.
Responding Friday to reports that talks have lost steam under Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer — a confidant of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — the Hostages and Missing Families Forum demanded he reach a deal to end the Gaza war and bring back the remaining 59 captives.
“On the eve of the festival of freedom, we again call on Minister Dermer: Fifty-nine, or resign,” the Forum said.
Among those at the Seder was the mother of hostage Nimrod Cohen. “We can’t go on with life. It’s just not right — it’s not right for Israeli society that there are 59 hostages in captivity,” said Vicki Cohen in a statement.
Also present was Ofir Angrest, whose older brother Matan is another Hamas hostage. “Passover is the most family-friendly holiday, so we don’t take it for granted that so many people left everything and came to mark the holiday with us in Hostages Square. It’s really moving,” he said.
Separately, the aunt of slain hostage Inbar Haiman, whose body is still held by Hamas in Gaza, held a seder by herself outside of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Jerusalem residence.
“For us, the holidays are over. Shabbat is over. The days of joy are over,” Hannah Cohen said in a statement.
