Thousands of Israelis demonstrated in Tel Aviv on Saturday to demand Benjamin Netanyahu’s government reach an agreement for the release of hostages, a plan presented the day before by US President Joe Biden.
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“An agreement on the hostages now,” demanded a demonstrator dressed as the Statue of Liberty, in the middle of a swarm of Israeli flags.
“Biden is our only hope,” protester Abigail Zur, 34, told AFP.
On Friday, the American president indicated that Israel had proposed a road map towards a complete ceasefire between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas including the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
In Tel Aviv, demonstrators brandished a huge banner: “Biden, save them from Netanyahu.”
The vast majority of demonstrators interviewed by AFP expressed their fears of seeing Benjamin Netanyahu endanger an agreement.
For Diti Kapuano, the Prime Minister cares more about his “power” than the fate of the hostages.
“I hope that Mr. Biden will exert enough pressure for the government and Mr. Netanyahu to accept the agreement,” continues this 46-year-old woman, Israeli flag in hand.
In a statement, the Forum of Families of Hostages and Missing Persons said it would “demand that the Israeli government immediately approve the agreement to release the hostages and bring all the hostages home immediately.”
“We will also ask all government ministers and coalition members to publicly commit to supporting the agreement and not allowing the possibility of torpedoing it and endangering the hostages,” added the NGO .
Far-right Israeli ministers threatened Saturday to leave the government if Mr. Netanyahu moves forward with agreeing a ceasefire in Gaza that includes a release of hostages.
“We must reach an agreement,” said Glick Gilad, 51, with a huge American flag in his hand.
AFP
“We are strong enough to take care of the war afterwards. First, let’s take them home.”
The war in Gaza was sparked by an unprecedented Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,189 people, the majority civilians according to an AFP count based on official Israeli figures.
Of the 252 people kidnapped on October 7, 121 are still held in Gaza, of whom 37 are dead, according to the Israeli army.
In response, Israel promised to destroy this movement and launched a vast offensive in Gaza which has so far left 36,379 dead, mostly civilians, according to the Health Ministry of the Hamas-led Gaza government.
“I have hope because I trust my people, not because I trust my government,” concludes Dorit Laor, 60.
