STORY: Hostage families gathered on Wednesday (May 28) in Tel Aviv to mark 600 days of the war in Gaza.

Activists gathered at the beach to make a formation of a yellow ribbon in tribute to the remaining hostages still held in Gaza.

The son of deceased hostage Arye Zalmanovich, Boaz Zalmanovich, called on U.S. President Donald Trump to help stop the war, saying: "You are the only one who can act to stop the vengeance war and ensure the return of all—both the living for rehabilitation and the fallen for burial."

On March 18, Israel effectively ended a January ceasefire agreement with Hamas and renewed its military campaign in Gaza. Hamas and allied factions began firing rockets and attacks two days later.

Hamas has said it is willing to free all remaining hostages seized by its gunmen in attacks on communities in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, and agree to a permanent ceasefire if Israel pulls out completely from Gaza.

Netanyahu has said Israel would only be willing to agree to a temporary ceasefire in return for the release of hostages, vowing that war can only end once Hamas is eradicated.

In all, more than 54,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's air and ground war, Gaza health authorities say. It was launched following a cross-border Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, that killed some 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

(Production: Ilan Rosenberg, Rami Amichay, Aviv Atlas, Andreea Popescu)

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: HOSTAGE FAMILIES GIVING STATEMENT MARKING 600 DAYS SINCE THEIR LOVED ONES WERE KIDNAPPED BY HAMAS ON OCTOBER 7, 2023 / DRONE VIEWS OF FORMATION OF YELLOW HOSTAGES RIBBON

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: TEL AVIV, ISRAEL (MAY 28, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. (MUTE) VARIOUS DRONE FOOTAGE SHOWING ACTIVISTS ON THE BEACH MAKING FORMATION OF YELLOW HOSTAGES RIBBON / LARGE WRITING ON THE BEACH READING (English): "58" (REFERENCING THE NUMBER OF ISRAELI HOSTAGES STILL HELD IN GAZA), and "600 SAVE THEM NOW!" REFERENCING 600 DAYS OF WAR AND CAPTIVITY AND THE PLEA TO BRING THE HOSTAGES BACK

2. HOSTAGE FAMILIES POSING FOR PHOTO HOLDING SIGNS READING (Hebrew): "THE PRICE OF YOUR WAR = THE LIVES OF THE HOSTAGES" AND (English): "STOP YOUR WARS! GET EVERYBODY HOME!"

3. SIGN READING (English): "STOP YOUR WARS! GET EVERYBODY HOME!"

4. HOSTAGE RELATIVES HOLDING SIGNS

5. FAMILIES HOLDING SIGNS, WEARING SHIRTS READING (English): 'MR TRUMP MAKE IT HAPPEN'

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) SON OF DECEASED HOSTAGE ARYE ZALMANOVICH, BOAZ ZALMANOVICH, SAYING:

"The worst and most brutal government in Israel's history has sentenced the remaining living hostages to death by torture. This government openly declares that the hostages are its lowest priority in Gaza, even after the population transfer, that the war is eternal, and that negotiations for a deal have already been thwarted. Therefore, we cry out to President Trump: You are the only one who can act to stop the vengeance war and ensure the return of all—both the living for rehabilitation and the fallen for burial. Know this, Mr. President: We are the majority of the people, the majority who say that returning the hostages is the first priority, a part of stopping the death and suffering on both sides. Use your power and determination to achieve peace and bring our loved ones home."

7. ACTIVISTS ON BEACH MAKING FORMATION OF YELLOW HOSTAGES RIBBON

8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) NIECE OF RELEASED HOSTAGE GADI MOZES, EFRAT MACHIKAWA, SAYING:

"Today marks 600 days. 600 days since 58 innocent people were kidnapped by Hamas and dragged into the tunnels of Gaza. 600 days of darkness. 600 days without freedom. 600 days of abandonment. The hostages, our family members, have endured horrific, inhumane conditions. The longer they remain underground, the more danger they face. And this suffering extends beyond them. The people of Gaza are victims too, held hostage by Hamas rule and the extended sad war."

9. ACTIVISTS ON BEACH MAKING FORMATION OF YELLOW HOSTAGES RIBBON

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) COUSIN OF RELEASED HOSTAGE OFER KALDERON, IFAT KALDERON, SAYING:

"A year and seven months since the greatest failure in the state's history, under Netanyahu’s watch — who gave up on the hostages and prioritizes his coalition over their lives. He zealously guards his seat and insists on escalating the fighting in Gaza, despite clear warnings from the IDF Chief of Staff that military pressure has already led to the deaths of 41 hostages who were kidnapped alive, and continues to endanger the lives of soldiers and an entire population of innocent civilians. Once again, there is a deal on the table, led by Witkoff (U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff) and Trump, with willingness from Hamas — but zero willingness from Netanyahu, who has turned endless war into a value. Netanyahu loves to write books about himself, but the only book that will be remembered — the one written since October 7 and still not closed — is the one that he will be remembered by. The father of the failure, cynically and cruelly engineers public messaging and reality. The blood will forever be on his hands, and on the hands of every public official who acted or will act to delay the return of the hostages."

11. PEOPLE ON BEACH WATCHING ACTIVISTS FORMING YELLOW RIBBON