A flotilla of boats carrying family members of Israeli hostages sailed from Ashkelon Marina to the Gaza maritime border and back on Thursday (August 7), in an emotional appeal to the Israeli government and the world to secure the release of their loved ones.

Boats adorned with Israeli and yellow flags and life buoys coloured yellow to symbolise the hostages approached the maritime border with Gaza, where relatives shouted messages through loudspeakers towards the Gaza coast.

Parents, siblings and other relatives called on the Israeli government to pause proposed plans to expand the offensive in Gaza and release all the hostages in one deal.

The plea came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was due to meet with a small group of senior ministers on Thursday to discuss plans for the military to take control of more territory in Gaza, despite mounting criticism at home and abroad over the nearly two-year-old war there.

Families say such plans would put the lives of the remaining living hostages in danger and would risk not ever finding the bodies of those held by Palestinian militant groups in Gaza.

There are 50 hostages, kidnapped by Hamas 22 months ago, still held in Gaza. Israeli officials believe 20 of whom are alive. Most of those freed so far came about as a result of diplomatic negotiations. Talks toward a ceasefire that could have seen some hostages released collapsed in July.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

ASHKELON, ISRAEL (AUGUST 7, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. BOAT CARRYING FAMILIES OF HOSTAGES DEPARTING IN FLOTILLA TOWARDS GAZA

AT SEA OFF THE COAST OF ISRAEL (AUGUST 7, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

2. VARIOUS OF FLAGS FLATTERING, BOATS SAILING

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) HAGAI ANGREST, FATHER OF HOSTAGE MATAN ANGREST, CALLING ON LOUDSPEAKER, SAYING:

"Matan, we're on our way to Gaza to save you, stay alive, we will get everyone back, we will do everything - at sea, in air, on land, to bring you back here and we will not stop."

4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ELA HAIMI, WIFE OF SLAIN HOSTAGE TAL HAIMI, CALLING ON LOUDSPEAKER:

"We are coming, we are coming, we are running out of time. We are coming to save you. Do you hear us? We are coming to save you, please, help us, the families, we want you back, as soon as possible."

5. BOAT WITH YELLOW FLAGS AND YELLOW LIFEBUOYS

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) MICHEL ILUZ, FATHER OF HOSTAGE GUY ILUZ, CALLING ON LOUDSPEAKER, SAYING:

"To all the hostages who can hear us - we're on our way to you. We want you to believe, to stick to hope. Us families are doing everything, everything, to save you. We are coming via sea and land and everywhere possible to save you, we are here for you. And to the government and cabinet members - I'm telling you, i implore you - it will not happen. We will not let you occupy Gaza, we will not let you continue the war at this time, when 50 hostages would not return home. Bring them back and do whatever you want."

7. RELATIVE OF HOSTAGE CALLING OUT NAMES OF HOSTAGES TOWARDS GAZA, SAYING (Hebrew): "These are the names of the 50 hostages that should have returned home a long time ago: Rom Braslavski, Now, Gali Berman, Now, Ziv Berman, Now, Nimrod Cohen, Now, Eitan Horn, Now."

8. FAMILIES ON ANOTHER BOAT CALLING OUT NAMES OF HOSTAGES ON LOUDSPEAKERS

9. RELATIVE OF HOSTAGE ITAY CHEN CALLING TOWARDS COAST (English): "Itay Chen, we didn't forget you, we're coming to get you and all the 50 hostages right now"

10. WOMEN ON BOAT CALLING "Mayday Mayday 50 hostages"

11. WOMAN CALLING (English): "We need immediate supply of food and water. Please help us, Mayday, Mayday, mayday, 50 hostages."

12. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) MICHEL ILUZ, FATHER OF HOSTAGE GUY ILUZ, CALLING ON LOUDSPEAKER, SAYING:

"Mayday, Mayday, you know when this signal sounds at sea, every vessel is required to get back and help. I am calling the whole world, when you hear our shout for help, the Mayday, your role is to help us, come and save our hostages, 50 of them."

13. BOAT

14. YELLOW LIFEBUOYS RELEASED AT SEA

15. VARIOUS OF BOATS AT SEA

ASHKELON, ISRAEL (AUGUST 7, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

16. BOATS RETURNING TO MARINA

17. (SOUNDBITE) (English) KOBI OHEL, FATHER OF HOSTAGE ALON OHEL WHO WAS KIDNAPPED NEAR NOVA FESTIVAL VENUE, SAYING:

"I came here to shout, to shout, to tell everyone that we must save Elon and all the hostages that are still in the tunnels."

18. PHOTO OF ALON OHEL PRINTED ON T-SHIRT

19. (SOUNDBITE) (English) KOBI OHEL, FATHER OF HOSTAGE ALON OHEL WHO WAS KIDNAPPED NEAR NOVA FESTIVAL VENUE, SAYING:

"I hope, I hope that even tonight, the cabinet decision, whatever it will be, I only that only by a deal, only by a deal we can save Alon."

20. BOAT RETURNING

21. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ELA HAIMI, WIFE OF SLAIN HOSTAGE TAL HAIMI WHO WAS KIDNAPPED FROM KIBBUTZ NIR YITZHAK, SAYING:

"Honestly I'm afraid from tonight, because I think after tonight there is no retuning. After tonight if they will decide to get into Gaza to spread the war, then I don't think if we can go back, I don't know if the hostages will ever return, including my husband Tal, I don't know if we'll be able to bury him in Nir Yitzhak."

22. MARINA