Tel Aviv: Thousands of Israelis took part in a nationwide strike to show solidarity with the families of hostages held in Gaza, urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reach an agreement with Hamas to end the war and secure the captives’ release.
Protesters waved Israeli flags and carried photos of hostages, while whistles, horns, and drums rang out at rallies across the country late last week. Some protesters blocked major roads, including the key route between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
“Today, everything stops to honor the highest value: the sanctity of life,” said Anat Angrest, whose son Matan is among those held, speaking at a public square in Tel Aviv. Israeli actress Gal Gadot, famous for her roles in Wonder Woman and the Fast & Furious franchise, also met with families of hostages during the demonstrations.
In a cabinet meeting, PM Benjamin Netanyahu stated that calls to end the war without defeating Hamas only strengthen the group and delay hostage releases. The prime minister, heading Israel’s most right-wing government, reaffirmed plans for the military to seize Gaza City, one of the few areas not under Israeli control.
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Hamas accepts 60-day Gaza ceasefire: Report Palestinian terror group Hamas said that it has accepted a proposed hostage release deal that includes a 60-day ceasefire in war-torn Gaza, news agency Reuters reported, amid continued fighting in the region. However, according to Saudi channel Al Arabiya, the proposal represents a compromise between a full ceasefire and a temporary truce, which includes the release of the remaining hostages and a gradual withdrawal of the Israeli military from Gaza. Israel has said it will agree to cease hostilities if all the hostages are released and Hamas lays down its arms - the former's demand being publicly rejected by the terror group until a Palestinian state is established. |
