Hostage families lead prayer for hostage return outside Ron Dermer's home

Hostage families gathered outside Ron Dermer's home, urging him to secure their loved ones' return by Passover amid stalled negotiations.

 Ilay David speaks at Rosh  Hodesh service outside Ron Dermer's home, March, 2025. (photo credit: COURTESY HOSTAGE FAMILY FORUM)
Ilay David speaks at Rosh Hodesh service outside Ron Dermer's home, March, 2025.
(photo credit: COURTESY HOSTAGE FAMILY FORUM)

Families of hostages and supporters gathered outside Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer’s home Sunday morning for a Rosh Hodesh service and to call to bring the hostages home.

In the lead-up to the second stage of the most recent hostage deal, Dermer took over leading the hostage talks, and hostage families have called on Dermer to make progress on bringing their loved ones home, as the deal has stalled and Israel returned to attacking in Gaza earlier this month.

The gathered hostage families expressed their faith in and support of Dermer, urging him to bring the hostages home for Passover, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum said.“It is inconceivable that we might, for the second time, sit at the Seder table without all those who have been robbed of their lives and their freedom,” said Ilay David, whose brother Evyatar David is still held captive.

 Families of hostages and supporters gathered outside Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer's home, March, 2025. (credit: COURTESY HOSTAGE FAMILY FORUM)
Families of hostages and supporters gathered outside Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer's home, March, 2025. (credit: COURTESY HOSTAGE FAMILY FORUM)

“My brother Evyatar, along with his friend Guy Gilboa-Dalal, was kidnapped from the Nova festival. We saw both of them in the sadistic Hamas video a month ago – they should have been here by now,” he added.

Hostage families demand action

“We stand here, filled with hope, Israelis and families of the hostages, to pray and plead for Hashem’s help. We ask for strength for the government, the army, and the negotiating team,” he said.

He also called on Dermer to secure an agreement to bring the remaining hostages home, saying this is his primary mission.

“Minister Dermer, your mission carries immense significance for the people and the State of Israel. When will you secure an agreement to bring everyone back safely from Gaza’s tunnels of despair? When will we see them all returning together?”

Levi Ben Baruch, whose nephew Edan Alexander is still held captive, also spoke at the service.

“Mr. Dermer and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, we cannot accept this situation. While you lift the matzah on Seder night and say, ‘This is the bread of affliction,’ our hostages are languishing in Hamas tunnels with nothing but moldy pita as their bread of affliction.”


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He called on Dermer to carry the names of the hostages with him, saying that “ just as the high priest was commanded to always wear the breastplate on his heart, inscribed with the names of the Twelve Tribes of Israel, you, as the head of the negotiating team, must carry the names of the 59 hostages on your heart at all times and in every decision.

“Your success in this mission, with God’s help, represents the success of an entire people. There is no greater commandment than the ransom of captives,” he said.

“You have the ability, Mr. Dermer, to restore joy and trust in our leaders. ‘In Nissan, they were redeemed [from Egypt], and in Nissan, they shall be redeemed again,’” he said, quoting a Talmudic expression.

Protesters also gathered near Netanyahu’s Aza Street home later on Sunday, calling for the return of the hostages.Protesters waved yellow flags, blocked the road, and sat in the street, chanting, “They are being abandoned. Bring everyone home now.”

“We are here to remind the head of Qatar’s office in Israel [Netanyahu] that there are still citizens in this country with a heart and values who are going to fight!” said the protest organization Hahofshiim (the free).

The organization said it would continue activities “until they are back” and “until [Netanyahu] is gone.”

Protesters for the hostages also gathered at Ha’ogen junction, calling to bring the hostages home, and protests were scheduled to take place outside the Kirya military headquarters.