Rescued hostage to Netanyahu: 'Do the right thing'
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum touted Saturday night's pro-cease-fire protest as "Israel's largest-ever rally," reporting the attendance of "over 500,000 people in Tel Aviv and 250,000 across Israel."
Demonstrators flooded downtown Tel Aviv to again demand that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government reach a hostage-release deal with Hamas. The recent deaths of six hostages in Gaza have reinvigorated the pro-cease-fire movement in Israel and put pressure on the prime minister.
Among the speakers were two former Gaza hostages. Andrey Kozlov -- rescued from Hamas captivity by the Israel Defense Forces in July -- told marchers: "We cannot allow this disaster to keep happening, we have to demand our leaders to do whatever it takes and do the right thing."
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Kozlov spent two months in captivity with Alex Lobanov, who was among the six hostages recently found dead in a tunnel in the south of the strip. "We must demand our leaders to agree to this chance even if it is difficult," Kozlov said on Saturday.
"We must demand no one forgets the hostages, no one ignores them, no one leaves them to die. Their time is running out, we see it, we feel it. Bring them back home now."
Danielle Aloni -- also kidnapped on Oct. 7 -- said in her address: "The time has come for courageous decisions. A hostage deal, supported by the international community, and led by President Biden, offers the only chance for their safe return."
"This is not just Israel's responsibility; this is a global humanitarian crisis. The world must stand united to bring them home. It's not just about saving lives, it's about restoring humanity and justice. Prime Minister Netanyahu, seal the deal. Now."
-ABC News' Dana Savir, Jordana Miller and David Brennan