Liha Gordon

The family of kidnapped Matan Tsengaukar will reveal tonight new documentation of him from his captivity in the Gaza Strip, where he has been held for 681 days. Earlier, his mother Einav and his partner Ilana Grichevsky

They held a "wedding" ceremony in Hatufim Square

, and called for its return in a comprehensive deal.

The couple Ilana Grichevsky and her mother Einav at the "wedding" ceremony in Hatufim Square. Today (Photo: REUTERS/Shir Torem)

Raanan Ben Tzur

Protesters blocked the Seven Stars intersection in Herzliya. At the same time, residents of Mishan Carmel in Haifa also participated in the nationwide protest for the return of those kidnapped from captivity in Gaza.

Mishan Carmel residents (Photo: Mishan Carmel)

Blocking the intersection in Herzliya (Photo: Herzliya Democratic Struggle Headquarters)

Demonstration in Bnei Dror

Yoav Zeiton

The IDF detected a launch from Yemen into the center of the country, in the midst of a day of protests for the release of the kidnapped."Defense systems are working to intercept the threat," it said,"We must act according to the Home Front Command's instructions." Following the shooting, alarms were activated in large areas of the center of the country for an hour. Minutes later, the IDF updated that the missile had been intercepted. Documentation of the alarms in the Kidnapped Square:

(Photo: satview)

Sitting on the floor in Hatupim Square (Photo: Moti Kimhi)

(Photo: Motti Kimchi)

Or Hadar

Danny Miran, the father of the kidnapped Omri Miran, participated in the national emergency conference at Shamir Hospital, and shared the concerns that accompany him every day."To be honest, I ponder and think about which child we will receive, how long it will take for him to recover. With each passing day, even in our families, and even more so in their tunnels - a layer of sorrow, pain, longing is added, and the unknown is the worst thing."

Danny Miren and his granddaughters (Photo: Uriel Even Sapir)

He said that "they abuse us every week, 'Here they are, they're just releasing them.' A month and a half ago I was sure that Omri would be home tomorrow, and he didn't come. I have two granddaughters, Alma was six months old, she didn't know Omri, she never really saw him as a father. If Omri stood next to her, she wouldn't know who he was."

He shared: "Everyone is broken, there is no one in the family who is not crushed. My three children have not worked since. After a month and a half of being in Tel Aviv, my daughter Naama called me and said: 'You forgot that you have three more children.'"

Gal Ganot

Gal Gadot arrived at the Kidnapped Square to support the families on "Stopping Day." Among other things, she met with Lishi Lavie-Miran, the wife of the kidnapped Omri Miran.

Gal Gadot at the Families Headquarters (Photo: Abductees' Families Headquarters)

Einav Tsengauker and Gal Gadot (Photo: Lior Rothstein)

Captivity survivor Yocheved Lifshitz and her son, alongside Gal Gadot (Photo: Lior Rotstein)

Roni Green Shaulov

Hundreds of protesters demonstrated this morning at the Shaar Negev (Hakshetot) intersection and blocked it intermittently. A convoy of tractors arrived at the scene and traffic in the area was disrupted. Later, a convoy set out for the"Black Arrow" monument - led by a combine harvester, on which was the sign"Return the kidnapped. Stop the fighting." The protesters marched alongside the vehicles for about four kilometers.

Protest at the Shaar Hanegev intersection (Photo: Herzl Yosef)

The Negev Gate (Photo: Herzl Yosef)

(Photo: Herzl Yosef)

(Photo: Herzl Yosef)

(Photo: Herzl Yosef)

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Liran Tamari

The police reported that all roads blocked following the demonstrations in Jerusalem have been reopened, and traffic is flowing."Starting this morning, Jerusalem District police and Border Guard soldiers worked to restore order following protests at several intersections in the city, on the Begin Highway and Highway 16, which included disorderly conduct while blocking roads, and in several cases there were clashes between the demonstrators and the police," the police said."During these clashes, the police arrested 7 troublemakers and they were taken to the police station for questioning."

The clashes with the police on Highway 16 (Photo: Menahem Kahana / AFP REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun)

(Photo: Menahem Kahana / AFP REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun)

Liran Tamari, Idan Blumhof

Shortly after the police declared that the demonstration on Route 16 at the entrance to Jerusalem was illegal, the Zeitgeist was activated. The police officers on the scene tried to clear the protesters, who were sitting down and holding each other, from the road. The protesters later exited the entrance tunnel into the city, and blocked the exit tunnel.

The police reported that "dozens of participants began to disrupt the order, blocking the Highway 16 tunnel and clashing with the police. So far, the police have arrested 7 suspects."

Documentation from the roadblocks (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky, Liran Tamari)

Protest for the kidnapped and blockade on Highway 16, Jerusalem (Photo: Liran Tamari)

Roy Rubinstein, Liran Tamari

Ayalon North in the Rokach Interchange area was opened to traffic, after being blocked for more than an hour.

At the same time, the Begin Highway to the north in Jerusalem was blocked to traffic due to protesters who had settled on it.

The blockade on Begin Road in Jerusalem (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky, Liran Tamari)

Protest for the kidnapped in Givat Ram, Jerusalem (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)

Roy Rubinstein

Protesters block Ayalon North in the Rokach Interchange area. Hundreds of protesters walk south among the vehicles.

The blockades on the Ayalon Highway (Photo: Protest Group, Yael Gadot)

Ayalon North

Ynet

The police updated that as of this time, Highway 75, Nahalal, is still blocked intermittently in all directions; Highway 65, Menashe Junction, in all directions; Highway 34 Junction, Shaar Negev, intermittently in all directions; Highway 4, Zichron Junction, in both directions; Highway 443, Shilat Junction - blocked intermittently in all directions. A protest convoy is traveling on the Ayalon Highway, significantly slowing down traffic southward. As of this time, the convoy is currently in the Yitzhak Sadeh area, and therefore congestion is being recorded in the area up to the Halacha Interchange.

Netivei Israel reported that there are still congestions following demonstrations on the roads:

1 from the Sha'ar Hagai interchange to the Latrun interchange.

1 from the Ganot interchange to the Kibbutz Galuyot interchange.

2 Dr. from Alexander Junction to Havatzelet Interchange.

4 Dr. from Hefer Junction to Ha'ogun Junction.

443 from Maccabim Reut Junction to Shilat Junction.

4 Dr. from Hefer Junction to Ha'ogun Junction.

65 from the Border Patrol intersection to the Menashe intersection.

75 m from the entrance to Ramat Yishai to the Nahalal junction.

40 NW from the Kastina junction to the Ram junction.

Shilat Junction (Photo: Modi'in Protesters)

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Ynet

Karkur Junction (Photo: Eitan Glickman)

(Photo: Eitan Glickman)

Hadar Junction

Raanana Junction (Photo: Shmuel Wegman)

(Photo: Shmuel Wegman)

Highway 4 (Photo: "From the networks according to Section 27 A)

Jerusalem (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)

(Photo: Alex Kolomoisky)

Protest in front of Minister Gila Gamliel's house

Protest in front of Minister Ron Dermer's house (Photo: Shalev Shalom)

Highway 6

Highway 1

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Ynet

Following attempts by many users at the same time,

The train site crashed.

It is not possible to search for trains and congestion is reported at most stations.

Savidor Center (Photo: Yuval Chen)

Israel Railways website not working

Many thousands continue to demonstrate across the country with pictures of the kidnapped, calling for an end to the war. The police updated us on the blockades:

On Highway 1, Anaba to the east.

Highway 75, Nahalal in both directions.

Highway 4, Raanana Junction in all directions.

Highway 443 Shilat Junction in all directions.

Intermittent blocks are recorded:

On Highway 1 at the Latrun interchange.

Highway 4, Pardesiya Junction.

Highway 40, Ram Mesmaiah Junction.

Highway 44 Nachshon Junction.

Highway 65 Megiddo Junction.

Highway 65 Menashe Junction.

Highway 89, Kabari Junction.

Highway 443 Shilat Junction.

Shaar Negev intersection.

The demonstrations are taking place under the Yakum Bridge on the Coastal Road and at the Yanai Interchange, at the Dror Bridge on Highway 4, the Shmaryahu Junction on the Coastal Road and the Raanana Junction. Hundreds of protesters are also at the Zichron Yaakov Junction, the Karkur Junction and the Ha'ogen Junction and at several intersections in Tel Aviv.

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Roy Rubinstein, Raanan Ben-Tzur

The blockade at the Raanana intersection

Dozens of demonstrators are protesting in Kfar Saba in front of the house of Deputy Foreign Minister Sharan Haskel, and protests have also reached her own home. Sarah Gila Gamliel Sigal Mansouri, mother of Roya and Noral who were murdered at the Nova party, also came to Minister Kish's house to demand an end to the war and the establishment of a state investigation committee.

At the same time, hundreds have already taken up positions under the Yakum Bridge on the coastal road, waving signs with pictures of the abductees, at the Dror Bridge on Highway 4, the Shmaryahu Junction on the coastal road and the Raanana Junction. Hundreds are also protesting at the Zichron Yaakov Junction with pictures of the abductees, calling for an end to the war. The police have informed us of blockades on Highway 1 Anaba to the east, Highway 75 Nahalal in both directions, Highway 4 Raanana Junction in all directions and Highway 443 Shilat Junction in all directions.

Protest for the kidnapped on Highway 4, Gesher Dror - Day of the Stop for the Kidnapped (Photo: Margo Sugarman)

Protest in front of Minister Gila Gamliel's house

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Lihi Gordon, Roy Rubinstein

Documentation from the blockade on Highway 1

Protesters on behalf of the kidnapped blocked roads across the country, including Highway 1, the Ha'ogen junction on Highway 4, and the Ra'anana junction. In addition, dozens of protesters also near the homes of Ministers Yoav Kish and Ron Dermer.

At the same time, the headquarters of the families of the abductees announced the intensification of the struggle:"The day of the halt is only the opening shot. Hundreds of thousands of Israeli citizens will halt the state today with one clear call: Return the 50 abductees and the abductee, end the war. Thousands of large and small businesses from all sectors of the economy will join and make a tremendous voice of solidarity and mutual guarantee in one simple human demand - to return all our loved ones home. The living for rehabilitation and the fallen for a proper burial in their country. Without smears and without slogans, together - in one comprehensive agreement.

"Tomorrow, the families of the abductees will set up the 'N.C. 50' camp - at the closest point to the 50 abductees and the abductee on the Gaza border. The families will sleep there, fight there, and from there announce the continuation of the struggle to return their loved ones." The families of the abductees said: "All summers are over. The government's intransigence and the heartlessness of its head and ministers oblige us to intensify the struggle and do everything in order to return our loved ones. We are running out of them, and if we don't return them now - we will lose them forever. For 22 months, we have been crying out for a comprehensive agreement, but our calls fall on deaf ears and closed hearts. We are tired of slogans and sloganeering. The abductees are running out of time. Only the people will bring the abductees home."

Protest in front of Minister Dermer's house (Photo: Shalev Shalom)

"Drummer! Executioner of 50. Loyal of 1" (Photo: Shalev Shalom)

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Roy Rubinstein

The families' press conference (Photo: Ido Erez)

Ahead of the press conference, a giant Israeli flag was unfurled in Tel Aviv's Hatufim Square, with images of the hostages on it. At the opening of the press conference, Vicky Cohen, Lishi Miran Lavie and Anat Engerst said in a joint statement:"We hope that the hostages, who have been languishing in the tunnels for 681 nights and days, will hear this morning that the people of Israel have not forgotten them for a moment. Hold on! We, with all citizens of Israel, ask that you hold on."

The giant Israeli flag unfurled in a square in Tel Aviv (Photo: Yair Palti)

Anat, the mother of Matan, who was kidnapped in Gaza, said that"Today, an entire country has pressed the emergency brake. Today, everything is stopped to save the lives of the 50 kidnapped people and the soldiers. Today, everything is stopped to remember the supreme value of the sanctity of life. Today, everything is stopped so that we can live here together for hundreds of years to come. The State of Israel is stopping today so that every soldier knows that an entire country stands behind him in a time of need."

Vicky, whose son Nimrod is in Hamas captivity, said,"We are united in a simple demand directed at the Israeli government: to put on the table today, an Israeli outline of a comprehensive deal to end the war in exchange for the release of the last kidnapped person. Without slogans, without torpedoes, without demands that we know will not be accepted by the other side. The time has come to end the terrible nightmare that an entire country has been in for 22 months."

Lishi, the wife of the kidnapped Omri Miran, added:"We ask all citizens of Israel, today when you take to the streets, please come out for only one message: the return of the kidnapped and the rescue of the soldiers. We really ask: If you have a desire for other demands, wait for another day. Today we are all for the kidnapped and the soldiers."

The family members at the press conference (Photo: Yair Sagi)

Vicky added: "Nimrod, my beloved child, I miss you, I miss hugging you tightly. Hold on." Lishi: "My Omri, I hope you see the support of the entire people of Israel today. We will not stop fighting for you. Roni and Alma miss you very much. They are waiting for you, I am waiting for you." Anat: "My Matan, we are turning the world upside down so that you can come back to us. Please be strong a little longer. We will do everything so that your nightmare and the nightmare of all of us will end."

Lishi concluded that "We promise Omri, Nimrod and Matan, all the kidnapped and their families, the bereaved families who stood by our side, the parents of the soldiers, and the entire public that supports us: this day is just the beginning. We draw strength from the public's support, and intend from here to escalate and intensify the struggle until all the kidnapped are home. We have no choice."

Naomi, the mother of the late Lotan Abir, who was murdered at the Nova party, said in a statement that"In my opinion, everyone who takes part in this action today is fulfilling the commandment - and love your neighbor as yourself. I belong to a club that no one wants to belong to, the bereaved parents' club. We lost the most precious thing. And I don't want to add any more families to this club. I look at the families of the kidnapped who are here today, and I don't want them to experience the terrible pain that we are experiencing. I don't want their hope for a happy ending to fade away."

"We have a commitment to the younger generation in this country. To the generation of my son's friends. A commitment to return all the kidnapped. A commitment not to send soldiers to a war that is not widely agreed upon by the public. A commitment to investigate the failures and omissions of the October Seven, so that they can be corrected. My Lotan loved this country, loved the people who live here. My call this morning is also in his name. Save the kidnapped, save the soldiers, save the State of Israel."

Noam Perry, the daughter of Haim Perry, who was murdered in Hamas captivity, said:"My father was kidnapped alive from Nir Oz, and bravely survived captivity in unbearable conditions. A year ago this week, we received my father's body back. Instead of receiving a hug of unity, we received a grave. My father was murdered in the tunnels during the military maneuvers in Khan Yunis when the air force bombed the tunnel where he was being held with 6 other hostages.

"My father could have been brought home in a deal, but the 'political circumstances' did not allow it, and the government preferred to continue the war. Even today, the prime minister can make a comprehensive agreement to return the kidnapped and end the war, and he also has the backing of the people for this, but he chooses to deepen it, with a decision that is a death sentence for the kidnapped who are dying in the tunnels. And I am not willing for more families to have an end like mine."

"I am here, so that Third will hug Omri, and Anat will hug Matan. And all the mothers and women and fathers and children who have been waiting for 682 days. I am also here so that the families of the kidnapped martyrs will at least have a grave, certainty, like mine has. And this day shows that I am really not alone. This day, the day of the people's strike, is a historic day. Because we, the people, the mothers, the fathers, the brothers and sisters, choose to stand by each other.

"I want to thank the hundreds of thousands of people who are standing up today, even at the personal cost of closing a business or being absent from work, and standing with us to read a clear warning to our government. 80% of the people are telling the government week after week, in polls, and at rallies - end the war and return all 50 hostages who are still in captivity home! An overwhelming majority of the people are telling the government in a clear voice: We have no desire for an eternal war on the backs of the hostages and the soldiers, we want our people home! End the war, return everyone home, establish a state investigation committee, and turn to deep and fundamental reform for the sake of future generations."

Shimon Buskila, the father of Yarden Buskila who was murdered at the Nuba party, said in a statement that"On the day of the funeral, I swore over his grave: The death of Yarden and the other flowers will not be in vain. Any other day I would sit here and tell you about our fight, the families of the 'October Council', to establish a state investigation committee. But this is no ordinary morning. This morning the State of Israel stopped because it can't be done like this anymore. This morning a state stopped because I paid the most expensive price in the world and I'm not willing for more families to pay it."

"This morning we feel what the true Israeli spirit is. The spirit of brotherhood, mutual responsibility, caring. This is not the struggle of 50 families of abductees, this is not the struggle of hundreds of thousands of families of reservists. This is the struggle of our people for its values. You took our children. Don't take away from us the truth, hope and faith that can still be fixed." Continue reading

Roy Rubinstein

The giant flag and the figures of the kidnapped are flying on it, this morning in the Kidnapped Square (Yair Palti)

(Shay Hazan)

(Shay Hazan)

(Yair Palti)

Ynet

Last week, families of those kidnapped and killed by the"October Council" declared a state shutdown, a declaration that translated into a"people's strike" that will take place across the country today. Small to large companies and dozens of organizations joined the movement, including local authorities and universities. Ynet will report today from the main protest centers.

Rally at Hatufim Square, yesterday (Photo: Dana Kopel)

Last night, Vicky Cohen, the mother of the kidnapped Nimrod, said that the initiative for the protest day was born out of a partnership with Lishi Lavie, Miran and Anat Engerst, and later bereaved families also joined."Until now, they have separated the bereaved families from the families of the kidnapped, as if the bereaved are in favor of Hamas's decision and the continuation of the war. This connection shows that this is not true: the bereaved families are with us, they also want the war to end and the kidnapped to be returned," she said.

According to her,"We demand that the government make a comprehensive proposal, and initiate a deal, now. This is not just a cry for the sons of Nimrod who have been in captivity for almost two years, but a struggle for the future of the State of Israel. Silence kills, and therefore this halt is intended to show decision-makers what the public really wants. This is the order of the hour."

During the conferences and rally today, Yael Adar, the mother of the kidnapped Tamir, will also participate and speak, noting that this is a critical day of national outcry. According to her,"For 22 months we have been in constant anxiety, in complete uncertainty. The kidnapped pay with their lives and families are falling apart. If we don't end this, we will live in a country where death and wars are the norm."

She emphasized that this is not political - "This is a demand for life, for real security. This war must not continue without a deadline, without a clear goal. If the people do not come out tomorrow and shout 'enough' - this means unlimited credit for the government to continue to run us like a third world country. This is a disaster we cannot bear." Continue reading

First published: 06:22, 17.08.25