Tens of thousands of Israeli protesters took to the streets on Saturday in a new demonstration aimed at pressuring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to sign a deal with Hamas to free prisoners held in the Gaza Strip.
According to local media reports, an estimated 750,000 people were on the streets across Israel, including in Tel Aviv, Haifa and the Karkur intersection near Haifa.
“I think even those who are reluctant to go out, those who are not used to protesting, those who are sad but prefer to be in private in their grief, have understood that our voices must be combined into one huge cry: Take hostages as a bargain. Don’t risk their lives,” said Efrat Machikawa, a Tel Aviv protester and nephew of captive Gadi Moses.
Protesters have been demanding that the government agree to a ceasefire deal to free dozens of prisoners in Gaza. The discovery of the bodies of six prisoners last week has reignited anger at Netanyahu, who has insisted on a military solution to the problem.
But most of the prisoners were released through talks. At least 105 were released as part of a ceasefire last November. Hamas demanded a ceasefire and exchange of prisoners for Palestinian prisoners, but Netanyahu refused.
Israel estimates there are more than 100 prisoners 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, clashing with police and making arrests, according to Channel 12 TV, which described Saturday’s demonstrations as “one of the largest demonstrations the country has seen since October 7, 2023.”
According to local health authorities, more than 40,900 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, and about 94,700 have been wounded.
Israel has also restricted the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza, resulting in severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine.
Israel is accused of genocide by the International Court of Justice for its actions in the Gaza Strip.
