Thousands of Israeli protesters took to the streets on Saturday in a new wave of protests to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to strike a deal with Hamas to free hostages in Gaza.
Estimated 750,000 people took to the streets across IsraelIncluding Tel Aviv and Haifa as well as the Karkur Junction area near Haifa, according to local media reports.
“I think that those who, perhaps, were reluctant to go out, who were not used to protest, who are sad but prefer to stay in private space in their sadness, understood that our voice should be joined with a huge scream: Bring the hostages. with the deal. Don’t risk their lives,” said one protester in Tel Aviv, Efrat Machikawa, the niece of captive Gadi Moses.
Protesters are calling on the government to agree to a ceasefire deal to free dozens of hostages in Gaza. The recovery of the bodies of six hostages last week has reignited anger against Netanyahu, who has pushed for a military solution to the issue.
But most of the hostages have been released through dialogue. At least 105 hostages were released as part of a ceasefire last November. Hamas’ demands for a cease-fire and a hostage exchange for Palestinian prisoners have been rejected by Netanyahu.
Israel estimates that more than 100 hostages are still being held in Gaza, some of whom are believed to have been killed.
Hundreds of protesters blocked major roads in Tel Aviv and Haifa, leading to clashes with police and arrests, according to Channel 12 TV, which noted that Saturday’s demonstrations were “among the largest in the country since October 7, 2023.” “.
Israel’s offensive against Gaza has killed more than 40,900 Palestinians, most of them women and children, and injured nearly 94,700, according to local health authorities.
Israel has also blocked the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, causing severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine.
Israel faces genocide charges for its actions in Gaza at the International Court of Justice.
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