Protesters demand October 7 investigation two years after murder of six Gaza hostages

The "Women Demand Life" movement staged a protest in Tel Aviv, calling for a government commission of inquiry into the October 7 massacre. The demonstration occurred on the two-year anniversary of the murder of six hostages by Hamas in August 2024: Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Carmel Gat, Almog Sarusi, Alexander Lobanov, and Ori Danino.

Protesters displayed cutouts of the hostages' faces and carried a banner reading, "We won't forget, they could have returned alive." The demonstration aimed to draw attention to the circumstances surrounding the hostages' deaths and to demand accountability from the government.

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With deep sorrow, we once again announce the murder of six hostages. These six individuals were taken alive, endured the horrors of captivity, and were then coldly murdered.

The Hostages and Missing Families Forum issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over the confirmed deaths. The forum asserted that these individuals were taken alive and subsequently murdered, directly attributing their deaths to "delays, sabotage, and excuses" in hostage deal negotiations. They stated that had a deal been reached sooner, the hostages might still be alive. The forum urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take responsibility following the IDF's recovery of the six bodies.

This protest highlights the ongoing public pressure and grief surrounding the fate of hostages taken during the October 7 attacks. The demand for a formal investigation underscores a desire for transparency and accountability regarding the events of that day and the subsequent handling of hostage recovery efforts.

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A deal for the return of the hostages has been on the table for over two months. Were it not for the delays, sabotage, and excuses, those whose deaths we learned about this morning would likely still be alive. It's time to bring our hostages home - the living for rehabilitation, and the fallen and murdered for burial in their homelands.