Eyal Eshel, father of lookout soldier Roni Eshel who fell at Nahal Oz base on October 7, made a statement at the rally in Hostages Square, saying, "For 681 days I have been going to every possible platform as the father of my Roni, the hero who fell in battle at the Nahal Oz post on October 7. Today, on this stage, for one evening I'm setting aside the role I've taken upon myself and going back to being a concerned Israeli citizen." He called out: "The power is in your hands, in our hands, in everyone's hands. Cry out from your bleeding hearts to the government: Put a deal on the table! Bring all the hostages home."