Hundreds of protesters blocked traffic near Tel Aviv at dawn on Tuesday morning to claim the end of the war in Gaza and the release of hostages, upstream of a meeting of the security firm planned at night.
At the north entrance to the coastal metropolis, an AFP photographer saw around 400 people stop cars, wielding Israeli flags and photos of hostages.
Other protesters gathered near a local branch of the American embassy, as well as before the houses of several ministers throughout the country, according to an AFP journalist and Israeli media.
A call for negotiations
Of the 251 people kidnapped on October 7, 2023, during the attack on Hamas against Israel, which caused the war in Gaza, 49 remain held there, including at least 27 dead according to the Israeli army.
“We demand that our leaders feel at the negotiating table and do not move as long as an agreement has not been reached,” said Hagit Chen, whose son was eliminated, cited by a press release from the family forum, the most important hostage hostage association.
The agenda of the security firm meeting has not been officially announced, but according to local media, it should discuss a resumption of negotiations for a high fire in Gaza and the release of hostages.
A plan that revives fears
Last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the opening of negotiations to release all hostages, a few days after the posterior current given by Hamas to a new proposal of high fire presented by mediators, Egypt, Qatar and the United States.
According to Palestinian sources, it establishes the staggered liberation of hostages during an initial truce of 60 days, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel.
At the same time, Benjamin Netanyahu gave a green light to a new military offensive to take control of the city of Gaza, considered one of the last bastions of the Palestinian Islamist movement.
In early August, the cabinet had approved a plan in this regard, reviving fears about the fate of the hostages and causing a new wave of demonstrations, which brought together tens of thousands of people.
The attack on Hamas on October 7 led to the death of 1,219 people on the Israeli side, mostly civilians, according to an AFP count based on official data.
Since then, Israeli attacks have made at least 62,744 dead in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to figures from the Hamas Government Ministry of Government in Gaza, considered reliable by the United Nations and caused humanitarian disaster.
Source: BFM TV
