Ahead of the Jewish High Holidays, captives’ relatives called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Saturday to “atone” for his failure to bring home their loved ones from Gaza, as tens of thousands of Israelis rallied across the country for the release of the hostages and against the continued fighting in the Strip.

The High Holidays begin Monday night with Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, falls on October 2.

At Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, Hannah Cohen, aunt of slain captive Inbar Hayman — the last woman still held in captivity — addressed the premier, drawing jeers at the mention of his name.

“Benjamin Netanyahu, in what world are 48 hostages, citizens, alive and dead, abducted and not returned home for nearly two years?” she said, demanding the prime minister meet with the families and provide information on the conditions of their loved ones. “Is there any atonement for this? No!”

Alon Nimrodi, father of captive soldier Tamir Nimrodi, addressed the premier by his nickname, which also drew jeers: “Bibi Netanyahu, it’s time you grew a heart [and] had some regard for human life.

“We’re just about at the holidays… yet more holidays I can’t celebrate, can’t mark, can’t enjoy at the holiday table with my family without knowing what is going on with my son,” he said.

“Bibi, at the start of the new year — a new Jewish year — show us what Jewish values are. Bring back our sons and daughter,” he added. “Not with dangerous and pointless fighting but with an immediate, comprehensive deal. We can deal with the rest later.”

“Yom Kippur is coming,” he said to Netanyahu. “Atone for your sins [and] the sins of your militant and irresponsible government.”

Nimrodi, whose son is one of two captives whose lives Israeli officials have expressed grave concern for, added that many people, including hostage families, often refer to only 20 living hostages out of the remaining 48.

“There are 22 hostages still considered alive — 22,” he said. “That’s what appears in the list that has been given to the mediators. I saw it with my own eyes.”

In keeping with its custom in recent weeks, the Hostages Square rally also featured a speech from a reservist calling for the end of the war. The soldier, Shahar Varon, called on the government to leverage the army’s “impressive achievements” to reach a truce and hostage deal. Like other reservists who have spoken at the square, he stopped short of calling on soldiers to refuse to take part in the operation to take over Gaza City.

Also speaking at Hostages Square was Yotam Cohen, brother of captive soldier Nimrod Cohen, who accused the government of imposing a “death sentence” on soldiers and the remaining hostages with its decision to order the military conquest of Gaza City.

He assailed Netanyahu’s

© The Times of Israel