Middle East: Israel: demonstration for the release of hostages in Gaza

Thousands of people demonstrated Saturday evening in several cities in Israel to maintain pressure on the government to obtain the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip.

“We all agree that we have failed so far and that we can reach an agreement now,” actor Lior Ashkenazi told the crowd gathered in Tel Aviv, the country’s second city.

“End the war, now is the time to act and bring everyone home,” added Itzik Horn, whose two sons, Eitan and Iair, are still held hostage in the Palestinian territory.

Signals are multiplying on a possible resumption of negotiations to achieve a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and an agreement to release the hostages, the main mediator, Qatar, having recently mentioned a new “momentum”.

Another mediating country, the United States indicated on Saturday through Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, that Hamas seemed to have softened its position: “It is the time to finally conclude this ceasefire agreement” and release of hostages, Mr. Blinken told reporters during a visit to Jordan.

In Egypt, the third mediating country, President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi met on Saturday with the American national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, and the American coordinator for the Middle East and North Africa, Brett McGurk, to discuss efforts to negotiate a ceasefire agreement in Gaza.

“The meeting focused on efforts to reach a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement in Gaza,” the Egyptian presidency said.