Thousands of protesters gathered in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to demand the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, following claims by the terror group's military wing that a female captive had been killed. The Israel Defense Forces said it could not confirm or deny the claim. Hamas has made similar claims in the past, some of which were later proven correct. Protesters at the rallies emphasized the dangers faced by the hostages as they enter their second winter in captivity. The rallies featured speeches from the families of captives and calls for the government to bring the hostages home.