A group of demonstrators gathered in Tel Aviv on Sunday to call for a formal investigation into the events surrounding the October 7 massacre and the subsequent murder of six Gaza hostages by Hamas. The protest was organized by the Women Demand Life movement and took place nearly two years after the hostages’ deaths in August 2024.

The six victims—Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Carmel Gat, Almog Sarusi, Alexander Lobanov, and Ori Danino—had been held captive before their bodies were recovered by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Protesters held cutouts of the hostages’ faces and displayed a banner stating, “We won’t forget, they could have returned alive,” underscoring their call for accountability and transparency.

Shortly after the discovery of the hostages’ remains, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum released a statement expressing deep sorrow and condemnation of the killings. The forum emphasized that these individuals had been taken alive and endured captivity, only to be executed later. The statement also criticized delays and alleged sabotage in efforts to secure their release, suggesting that timely negotiations might have saved their lives.

“A deal for the return of the hostages has been on the table for over two months,” the forum said, adding that the families believe bureaucratic obstacles and excuses contributed to the hostages’ deaths. The organization called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to assume responsibility before the nation, following the IDF’s recovery of the six bodies.

The protest in Tel Aviv marks a continued demand by families and activists for a comprehensive inquiry into the handling of the hostage crisis and the broader October 7 attack, which has remained a subject of intense public scrutiny and debate in Israel.

The report was compiled with contributions from Yonah Jeremy Bob, Sam Halpern, and Jerusalem Post staff.