DW met Yehuda Cohen in front of the Likud party's Tel Aviv headquarters at a sit-in organized by families of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. His son, Nimrod, has been held captive for 22 months.
Yehuda Cohen and other demonstrators are demanding a full withdrawal of the Israeli military from Gaza, arguing that only such a move would secure the release of all hostages.
Daphna, another protester, said around 85% of Israelis support ending the war to bring all hostages home. She accused the government of prolonging the conflict for political purposes.
Under the latest truce proposal, only half of the 20 hostages who are still alive would be freed, sparking painful debates about who gets to return.
Cohen, whose son was captured while serving as a soldier on October 7, 2023, is also frustrated with the lack of progress and claims that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly sabotaged potential deals.
The participants of the sit-in later joined a larger demonstration at Habima Square, where some acknowledged the plight of Palestinians in Gaza alongside calls for the release of the hostages.