The rallies come on the same day that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was sending the head of the foreign intelligence agency Mossad to ceasefire talks in Doha.
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Several ambassadors to Israel joined the weekly gathering in Tel Aviv of family members and supporters demanding a deal for the return of the last hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
The protest comes the same day Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was sending the head of the foreign intelligence agency Mossad to talks in Doha, a sign of progress toward ending 15 months of war.
“We are in a phase of intensive negotiations, which is a good thing. I think these efforts should not be interrupted or stopped”said German Ambassador to Israel Steffen Seibert.
“We know that the only way to bring all the hostages home is through negotiations. That is why I call on those involved in the negotiations to do what is necessary to reach an agreement”said Simon Walters, the British ambassador.
These weekly gatherings in Tel Aviv have been taking place for months on what is now called the “hostages square”. They also took on a political dimension, with many demonstrators calling on Mr. Netanyahu to call new elections and resign. They accuse him in particular of giving priority to his political survival rather than the lives of the hundred hostages who are believed to be in Gaza.
“Six soldiers have been killed in Gaza this week alone. Almost every day, new names of victims are published. How much more blood will be shed for Mr. Netanyahu’s personal interests?”declared one of the demonstrators, Efrat Machikawa.
“It’s time, the people of Israel want this government to go. We want the war to end and the hostages to return home,” said Idit Peterson.
Although Mr. Netanyahu announced that the Mossad foreign intelligence chief would participate in the talks, it is not yet clear when David Barnea will travel to Qatar for the latest round of indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas.
But the United States is putting increasing pressure on the two sides to reach an agreement before Joe Biden leaves the White House and makes way for Donald Trump on January 20.
Mr. Barnea’s presence means that high-level Israeli officials, who would have to approve any deal, are now involved.
The head of Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency, as well as military and political advisers will also be sent to Qatar.
Mr Netanyahu’s office said the decision followed a meeting with his defense minister, security chiefs and negotiators “on behalf of the outgoing US administration and the incoming US administration”.
In 15 months of war, only one brief ceasefire was reached in the first weeks of fighting. Since then, talks mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar have continued to bog down.
The Israeli newspaper, citing Hamas sources, said details of the ceasefire agreement were “almost finished”, “90% of the details” had been agreed upon, but there were still some sticking points.
Discussions focus on a gradual ceasefire, with Mr. Netanyahu indicating that he is only committed to the first phase, namely a partial release of the hostages in exchange for a cessation of fighting for several weeks. Hamas insisted on a total withdrawal of Israeli troops from the largely devastated territory, but Netanyahu insisted on the destruction of Hamas’ ability to fight in Gaza.
ADVERTISEMENTOn Thursday, Gaza’s health ministry, controlled by Hamas, said more than 46,000 Palestinians had been killed in the war, the majority women and children, although it did not specify how many of them were combatants or civilians.
The war in Gaza began in October 2023 when Hamas and other Islamist groups launched an incursion into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and bringing nearly 250 hostages back to Gaza.
A truce reached in November 2023 saw the release of more than 100 hostages, while others were rescued or their remains found over the past year. The Israeli army claims to have killed more than 17,000 militants during the war, without providing evidence.
