Tens of thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Jerusalem yesterday after a five-day march from Tel Aviv, calling for the Israeli government to prioritize the release of captives held by Hamas in Gaza. The demonstration, which included an estimated 20,000 participants, took place in front of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office.

Family members and friends of approximately 240 captives rallied together, voicing their frustration at what they perceive as the government's indifference towards their pleas. The protesters demanded that the government take immediate action and "do everything they can to bring the hostages back."

"Noam Alon, 25, who was holding a photograph of his abducted girlfriend, Inbar, stated, "We cannot wait any longer, so we are demanding them to do that now, to pay any price to bring the hostages back."

These captives were taken during the October 7 attack by Hamas in southern Israel, which resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people, mostly civilians. In response, Israel launched a large-scale aerial and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip, home to Hamas, resulting in the loss of more than 12,000 lives, mostly civilians.

Amidst the ongoing tensions, the Qassam Brigades, Hamas's military wing, revealed on Saturday that they had lost contact with some of the groups responsible for the safety of the captives in the Gaza Strip. "The fate of the captives and those holding them is still unknown after we lost communication with them," said a spokesperson for the Qassam Brigades.

Concerns have been raised regarding the safety of the captives amidst Israeli attacks aimed at dismantling Hamas. Relatives and friends of the missing fear that their loved ones may come to harm during the hostilities. However, the Israeli government argues that the offensive increases the likelihood of recovering hostages by exerting pressure on Hamas.

Prominent figures, including centrist opposition leader Yair Lapid, joined the demonstrators on their march to Jerusalem. Lapid, who has generally supported the war effort, has called for the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

During a visit to the marchers at a rest stop, Miki Zohar, a member of Netanyahu's cabinet and party, faced heckling from the crowd, indicating widespread frustration with the government's response to the hostage situation.

Adding to the anxiety of campaigners and relatives, Hamas released a video on Monday confirming the death of the first hostage in captivity, and the group has claimed that others have also been killed. These developments have intensified calls for the Israeli government to expedite any potential prisoner swap, as well as frustration with Netanyahu's emphasis on discretion regarding the Qatari- and Egyptian-mediated negotiations.

Stevie Kerem, a campaigner, criticized the lack of communication from the government, stating, "It's impossible that there are 240 kidnapped people and the government - our government - isn't talking to [the relatives], isn't telling them what's going on, what's on the table, what's on offer, what are the reasons for and against. Nothing."

Oliver McTernan, a veteran in hostage negotiation, expressed support for the concerns of the families. He emphasized the need for a ceasefire of sufficient duration to safely transport the captives across the battlefield as the only way to secure their return. However, Israeli authorities argue that such a move would grant Hamas an opportunity to rearm, posing a potential threat in the future.

McTernan stated, "I think every day that goes on there is a risk—risk with bombings, risk with incursions and whatever—of the civilians, Israeli civilians, dying in Gaza... That should be a priority of any government: to ensure their safety and their return to their families."

The massive demonstration in Jerusalem underscores the urgency felt by the families and their supporters, as they continue to demand immediate action from the Israeli government to secure the release of the captives from the hands of Hamas.