Relatives demand hostage deal
“After 176 days the excuses are over”
March 31, 2024, 3:34 a.m
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It has been almost six months since Hamas terrorists murdered at least 1,160 people in Israel and kidnapped hundreds as hostages in the Gaza Strip. Around 130 people remain in the hands of Hamas. Many Israelis blame Prime Minister Netanyahu for this. Relatives are calling for a mass protest.
Thousands of people demonstrated in Tel Aviv against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and for the return of the hostages held in the Gaza Strip. At their weekly rally on Saturday evening, the families of the hostages called for demonstrations next week in front of the parliament building in Jerusalem.
Shira Elbag, whose 19-year-old daughter Liri was kidnapped by Hamas fighters in the Gaza Strip during the radical Islamic Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, called on her compatriots in an emotional speech to increase the pressure on Netanyahu. “It’s time to go out and fight against indifference and for life,” she said. “I now ask you to take to the streets with us and say with a unified and clear voice: ‘Bring her home now!'”
The relatives of the hostages and their supporters gathered like every Saturday in a square in Tel Aviv that they renamed “Hostages Square.” This week, a second demonstration took place in front of the Defense Ministry, which was explicitly directed against Netanyahu’s government. Some protesters held signs directly blaming Netanyahu for the hostages’ unknown fate. Next to his photo was written: “You’re the boss, it’s your fault.”
German-Israeli Raz Ben Ami, who was released by Hamas in November during a cease-fire brokered by Qatar and the United States, appealed to Netanyahu to speed up talks about releasing the remaining hostages. “Issue an order to negotiators in Qatar not to return without a deal,” she said. Elbag added: “After 176 days, the excuses are over.”
Police use water cannons
In the evening, demonstrators also blocked the ring road around Tel Aviv. Police used water cannons against demonstrators, who lit fires and blocked both lanes with trucks and sit-ins. According to media reports, there were also small protests against the government in other cities. In Jerusalem, hundreds gathered outside Netanyahu’s residence and demanded his resignation.
According to Israeli reports, at least 1,160 people were brutally killed and 250 others were kidnapped as hostages in the Gaza Strip during Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7th. According to information, 130 of them are still in the control of Hamas. 33 of them are now said to be dead.
After the attack, Israel announced that it would destroy Hamas and has since taken massive military action in the Gaza Strip. According to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health, which cannot be independently verified, more than 32,700 people have now been killed.