Israeli families accuse Prime Minister Netanyahu of sacrificing hostage rescue efforts to protect his fragile political coalition, as national outrage reaches a boiling point on the 600th day of captivity.
At a Glance
- 58 Israeli hostages remain in Hamas captivity after 600 days, sparking mass protests across Israel
- Families accuse Netanyahu of delaying negotiations to preserve his governing coalition
- Protesters blocked roads and demanded Netanyahu’s resignation during coordinated demonstrations
- The October Council is pushing for early elections and a formal inquiry into the government’s crisis handling
- Freed hostage Arbel Yehoud credited Trump for her release and criticized Israel’s current leadership
Families Turn Against the State
On May 27, Israel marked 600 days since Hamas took hostages during its deadly October 7, 2023, attack. While that day left 1,200 Israelis dead and 251 abducted, 58 captives remain unaccounted for, and families say time is running out. In Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and dozens of other cities, demonstrators staged road blockades, beach displays, and vigils. Protesters claim Netanyahu’s political survival has taken precedence over humanitarian rescue.
“600 days we are without our loved ones, 600 days that Hamas is holding them captive, and the bloody Israeli government is abandoning them to maintain the integrity of their coalition,” said Keith Siegel, a relative of a hostage. His sentiment echoed across protest signs and chants, many of which demanded Netanyahu’s resignation.
Watch a report: “Families Demand Action: 600 Days Without Justice”.
Political Fallout Escalates
The October Council, an advocacy group representing families of those killed or captured, is now calling for early elections and a full state commission of inquiry. According to the New York Post, a bill has been introduced in the Knesset to dissolve parliament. Activists allege widespread government negligence and accuse hostage negotiator Ron Dermer of achieving no tangible results. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum has also slammed the government’s inaction as driven by political calculation.
“Our families have become the victims of cheap politics at the hands of the prime minister,” Siegel added, as symbolic yellow bows—representing hostage solidarity—blanketed public spaces across Israel.
One Freed Hostage Speaks Out
The anger intensified following public comments from recently released hostage Arbel Yehoud, who said she owed her freedom not to Israeli efforts but to former President Donald Trump’s intervention. Yehoud publicly praised Trump for his role while urging Netanyahu’s government to intensify its diplomatic push. Her emotional testimony has amplified calls for accountability and reform within Israel’s top leadership.
“The Israeli government stands before a single choice: saving lives or abandoning them,” Yehoud declared, speaking on behalf of the families still living in agony. With protests gaining momentum and demands for early elections growing louder, Netanyahu’s crisis of governance may soon become a broader referendum on national leadership itself.
