Tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets this weekend in several cities, demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urgently negotiate a deal with Hamas to secure the release of over 100 hostages currently held in Gaza. The protests, which took place amid heightened security warnings and fears of a potential Iranian military response, underscored the growing frustration over the stalled negotiations.
In Tel Aviv, large crowds gathered at Begin Gate near the Kirya IDF headquarters on Saturday, despite concerns about a possible strike from Iran following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran. Demonstrators waved Israeli flags and held up signs with images of the hostages, chanting slogans such as “We’re not letting up; release the hostages” and “Stop the death, stop the bereavement, human lives above all!”
The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant casualties, with Israel’s military offensive in Gaza causing nearly 40,000 Palestinian deaths and displacing around 2 million people. The current number of hostages, both living and dead, stands at 115, with 111 taken during the October 7 attack by Hamas that also claimed over 1,200 Israeli lives.
Family members of the captives have sharply criticized Netanyahu’s handling of the situation, accusing him of escalating the conflict rather than negotiating a life-saving deal. An association representing the families released a statement demanding transparency from the Israeli government about the failure to secure a resolution.
Gil Cohen-Magen/AFP/Getty Images
Opposition leader Yair Lapid joined the criticism, calling on Israeli security officials to “tell the public the truth” about the negotiations. Lapid’s statement highlighted concerns that Netanyahu’s government might be misleading families and the public about the progress of the talks.
Recent reports revealed tensions within Netanyahu’s inner circle over a proposed ceasefire and hostage deal. According to Channel 12, senior Israeli officials, including Mossad director David Barnea and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, urged Netanyahu to accept the deal. The Prime Minister allegedly dismissed their advice, leading to a heated exchange. Netanyahu’s office has disputed these claims, asserting that the descriptions of the meeting were inaccurate and that Hamas is responsible for obstructing the negotiations.
In response to the protests and criticisms, Netanyahu’s office accused media leaks of distorting the situation and blamed Hamas for introducing changes to the proposed deal that have hindered progress. The statement emphasized that Netanyahu remains committed to securing the hostages’ release but criticized Hamas for complicating the negotiations.
As the situation remains tense, the Israeli public continues to demand urgent action to resolve the hostage crisis and end the prolonged conflict.
