Released hostages give protesters in Tel Aviv hope for those left behind.

Yelena Trupanob, 50, a Russian-Israeli hostage who was released from captivity in Gaza three days ago, had a message for the thousands of protesters who gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening to continue pressure on the Israeli government to secure the release of the remaining making hostages a priority. top priority.

“I came to thank you,” said Mrs. Trupanob. “Because without all of you, I wouldn’t be here.”

In her first public appearance since his releaseMs Trupanob was joined on stage in front of the Central Military Headquarters in Tel Aviv by her mother, Irena Tati, 73. She was also one of 105 hostages – including Israelis, Thais and other foreigners – released. and returned to Israel. Most were released as part of a seven-day ceasefire that ended Friday morning local time. With around 240 hostages captured in the surprise Hamas-led attacks on October 7, more than 100 hostages remain in captivity, according to Israeli officials.

Ms Trupanob, her son, Sasha, 28, and Ms Tati were kidnapped from their home in Kibbutz Nir Oz on October 7. Mr Trupanob continues to be held in Gaza. Her husband, Vitaly Trupanob, was killed in the attack.

“Now we must continue to give back my Sasha and everyone,” Ms. Trupanob said during the demonstration. After repeating the message in Russian, her voice cracked with emotion as she shouted, “Right now!” sang. with the crowd.

Tears flowed more freely and chants to “bring them home now” were louder than in previous weeks of rallies in Tel Aviv, as demonstrators celebrated the return of some hostages and lamented the many still in captivity.

Michal Lebenthal, who is the same age as Ms. Trupanob, said she was moved by her speech because “as a mother she wants her son to come back, and I feel the same.”

Before the temporary ceasefire, that number was thousands of people gathered outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office in Jerusalem to call on the government to do more to free the hostages in Gaza, the culmination of a five-day march from Tel Aviv that started with just 100 friends and family of the prisoners. But as military operations resume in Gaza, the hostages’ families say they feel like they are back to square one.

Amit Shem Tov, 24, whose younger brother Omer, 21, is still being held in Gaza, said: “The end of the ceasefire is the worst thing that could have happened because it seriously delays the release of my brother. ”

Seeing Ms. Trupanob at the meeting filled Mr. Shem Tov with hope and a little jealousy. “I wish we would be here with him next Saturday,” Mr Shem Tov said, but until his brother returns, he added that he would continue to put as much pressure on the government as possible to secure the release of the remaining hostages set. .