Yelena Trupanob, 50, a Russian Israeli hostage who was launched from captivity in Gaza three days in the past, had a message for the hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday night time to proceed to stress the Israeli authorities to make liberating the remaining hostages a high precedence.
“I got here to say thanks,” Ms. Trupanob mentioned. “As a result of with out all of you, I wouldn’t be right here.”
In her first public look since being launched, Ms. Trupanob, was joined onstage in entrance of the central navy headquarters in Tel Aviv by her mom, Irena Tati, 73. She was additionally one of many 105 hostages — which incorporates Israelis, Thais and different international nationals — who’ve been launched and returned to Israel.
Most had been freed as a part of a seven-day cease-fire that ended Friday morning native time. With roughly 240 hostages taken within the shock Hamas-led assaults on Oct. 7, greater than 100 hostages stay in captivity, based on Israeli officers.
Ms. Trupanob, her son, Sasha, 28, and Ms. Tati had been kidnapped from their dwelling in Kibbutz Nir Oz on Oct. 7. Mr. Trupanob continues to be being held in Gaza. Her husband, Vitaly Trupanob, was murdered within the assault.
“Now, now we have to proceed, to return my Sasha, and everybody,” Ms. Trupanob mentioned on the demonstration. After repeating the message in Russian, her voice cracked with emotion as she chanted “Proper now!” with the gang.
Tears flowed extra freely and chants to “carry them dwelling now” had been louder than within the earlier weeks of rallies in Tel Aviv, as protesters celebrated the return of some hostages and lamented the numerous nonetheless in captivity.
Michal Lebenthal, who is identical age as Ms. Trupanob, mentioned she was moved by her speech as a result of “as a mom she needs her son to return again, and I really feel the identical.”
Earlier than the short-term cease-fire, hundreds of individuals rallied outdoors Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s workplace in Jerusalem to name on the federal government to do extra to free hostages held in Gaza, the end result of a five-day march from Tel Aviv that started with simply 100 family and friends of the captives. However with the navy operations resuming in Gaza, households of the hostages say they really feel as if they’re again to sq. one.
Amit Shem Tov, 24, whose youthful brother Omer, 21, continues to be being held in Gaza, mentioned, “The tip of the cease-fire is the worst factor that might have occurred as a result of it severely delays the discharge of my brother.”
Seeing Ms. Trupanob on the rally crammed Mr. Shem Tov with hope, and a little bit of jealousy. “I want subsequent Saturday we’ll be right here with him,” Mr. Shem Tov mentioned, however till his brother returns, he added that he would proceed to place as a lot stress as attainable on the federal government to safe the discharge of the remaining hostages.
