Crowds flock to Tel Aviv to demand release of hostages and oust Netanyahu

Thousands of people gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday night to show their support for the decision to release Israeli hostages held by Hamas. The crowd was loud in their criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and called for new elections during the protest. Banners reading “Negotiate now, resign later” were seen throughout the demonstration.

One father of an Israeli hostage expressed his frustration with the government’s handling of the situation, stating that the government’s personal survival seemed to be more important than that of the hostages. He urged the government to agree to a ceasefire in exchange for the hostages’ release.

Israeli news channel Khan reported that Israel would not be sending a negotiating team to Cairo at that time. The report stated that a delegation would only be sent to Egypt once Hamas responded to the agreement proposal. The brother of one of the hostages warned that the Israeli offensive in Rafah could have deadly consequences for the prisoners.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid called on the government to take action and send a negotiating team to Cairo. He emphasized the importance of reaching an agreement and bringing the hostages home. Netanyahu was singled out during the protest as unfit to remain prime minister in light of the situation, with critics claiming that he had the blood of the hostages on his hands.