(31 Jan 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tel Aviv, Israel – 31 January 2025
1. Various of police at "Hostages Square," the Tel Aviv plaza that has become a gathering point for families and supporters of hostages
2. Screen showing count of days since hostages have been held in the Gaza Strip
3. Various of lighting of Shabbat candles
4. Candles burning
5. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Ester Taranto, Kibbutz Nahal Oz:
"I am so emotional for the return of another three hostages back home – with God’s blessing, and with big hope – Keith Siegel, Yarden Bibas and Ofer Kalderon (will return) tomorrow during the day."
6. Pan from participants to band playing music
7. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) May Mayer, cousin of twin brothers Gali and Ziv Berman held hostage in Gaza:
"Now, we need you more than ever, the support and the hugs of the nation, as that is what is empowering them (the hostages) – the presence of everyone here with us until the return of the last hostage."
8. Leah Goldin, mother of Hadar Goldin, a soldier killed in 2014 whose body is still held in Gaza, receiving greetings from supporters
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Leah Goldin, mother of Hadar Goldin, a soldier killed in 2014 whose body is still held in Gaza:
"I would like to approach and to call President (Donald) Trump and tell him that Hadar was killed by a ceasefire on 2014, brokered by the United States, supported by the U.N. And since Hadar was killed in a ceasefire, we learned very soon that Hadar is actually a victim of a ceasefire rather than a victim of a war."
10. Poster of Israeli soldiers Hadar Goldin and Oron Shaul whose bodies have been held in Gaza since 2014 – Israel said earlier in January that it recovered the remains of Shaul
11. SOUNDBITE (English) Leah Goldin, mother of Hadar Goldin, a soldier killed in 2014 whose body is still held in Gaza:
"The only thing to do is now to return Hadar back to Israel and to rectify the 2014, so we can believe in this ceasefire and know that now we have a strong America with a president of credibility – and that is accountable, really accountable for a ceasefire."
12. People preparing yellow flowers, a color that is symbolic in the hostage issue, prepared to be handed over to hostages’ families
13. Various of posters with images of hostages
STORYLINE:
The organization representing families of hostages held in the Gaza Strip is celebrating the news that three male hostages are expected to be released on Saturday as part of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas.
Yarden Bibas — father to young Ariel and Kfir Bibas — Keith Siegel and Ofer Kalderon have all become household names in Israel since their abduction, with major campaigns calling for their release.
The news that the three high-profile hostages are expected to be released Saturday brought excitement and trepidation to Israel on Friday.
The men’s release would be the fourth since a ceasefire paused the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas this month.
Families and supporters of Israeli hostages at a Shabbat ceremony expressed relief over for the return of the hostages, but called on people to continue to show their support until all hostages are released.
"Now, we need you more than ever," said May Mayer, the cousin of Gali and Ziv Berman, twin brothers held hostage held in Gaza.
In its first phase of the ceasefire, 33 Israeli captives are expected to be freed in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Around a third of some 80 people still held hostage in Gaza are believed to be dead.
"The only thing to do is… to return Hadar back to Israel," Goldin said.
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