US envoy Witkoff visits Tel Aviv protest calling for release of captives from Gaza

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff visited a protest Saturday in central Tel Aviv, where families of “Israeli” captives held in the Gaza Strip are demonstrating to pressure the “Israeli” government for a deal to secure their relatives' release.

Witkoff spoke with several families in the “Hostage Square”, expressing his country's solidarity with their demands and reaffirming that the United States continues to support mediation efforts to reach an agreement that would lead to the captives’ freedom.

Witkoff was greeted with applause before going into a meeting with representatives of the families, Hebrew media reported.

The visit comes amid mounting internal pressure on the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with families demanding intensified political action and a prisoner exchange deal to end the suffering of their loved ones.