In renewed protests, hostage’s mother calls on Trump to demand end to the war in Gaza

From CNN’s Nic Robertson and Oren Liebermann

Viki Cohen, the mother of hostage Nimrod Cohen, speaks at kibbutz Nir Oz, Israel, on April 20.

Amir Cohen/Reuters

As renewed protests against the war in Gaza begin tonight in Israel, the mother of a hostage is calling on US President Donald Trump to demand an end to the conflict.

Viki Cohen, mother of 20-year-old Nimrod Cohen, told CNN she feels there is “momentum” now to end the war and to bring all of the hostages home.

“Even (though) we were disappointed before so many times, now we feel that it’s a little different. Trump is very demanding and we believe in him. We trust him. And we know he has the power to stop the war,” Cohen said as she prepared to participate in a protest in Tel Aviv.

“He can pressure our prime minister to do it, to finish the war in Gaza. And in this way all the hostages can come home, and my son among them.”

There are 50 hostages still held in Gaza, of which at least 20 are believed to be alive.

The weekly anti-war and anti-government protests that have packed the streets of Tel Aviv and other cities were forbidden during the 12-day conflict with Iran because of emergency guidelines prohibiting large gatherings. With the restrictions lifted, organizers are renewing the protests, particularly in light of the ceasefire with Iran.

Trump said Friday he believes a ceasefire will be agreed to in Gaza “within the next week.”

“We hope that now it’s the momentum to bring all the hostages back home after the fight with Iran,” Cohen said. “Iran gives a lot of support to Hamas, and now they don’t have Iran anymore. We finished with Hezbollah, so now there is no threat, and it’s time to finish the war in Gaza and to bring them all home.”