Tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets in a nationwide protest on Sunday, calling for a prisoner exchange deal with Palestinian factions in Gaza. The demonstrators in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa, Ashdod, Ramat Negev, and Kfar Tavor demanded Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to negotiate the release of hostages held by Hamas.
The Israeli military recovered the bodies of six hostages from Gaza earlier that day, sparking outrage and urgency among the protesters. Israeli source revealed that three hostages were meant to be part of a potential exchange deal.
Despite ongoing mediation efforts by the US, Qatar, and Egypt to broker a ceasefire and humanitarian aid access to Gaza, Netanyahu’s reluctance to meet Hamas’ demands has stalled progress. The conflict has resulted in substantial Palestinian casualties, with almost 40,700 reported deaths.
The plea for negotiation and compassion in this long-standing conflict was illustrated by the protests, as people from various cities united to demand a resolution and protection for those in captivity.
Photo ©️ Anadolu Agency
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