About 750,000 protesters took to the streets in one of the largest protests in the history of Israel, as they called on the government led by Benjamin Netanyahu to release captives still held in Gaza. This huge attendance came after the Israeli Army reported its discovery of a tunnel in Gaza with the bodies of six captives.
Relatives of the detainees have accused Netanyahu of not finding a way of securing the release of the hostages. It is believed that over 100 captives are being held in Gaza, most of which people assume are already dead. In November, 105 captives were released by Hamas in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners.
Citizens took to the streets in Tel Aviv and other towns, expressing discontent with the government’s management of the crisis. As reported by Hamdah Salhut, coverage of negotiations has been restricted in Israel. Despite these barriers, demonstrators will insist on protesting until they are served.
Danielle Aloni, who was once a captive herself, expressed her distaste for Netanyahu’s strategy much in the same way, saying, ‘We will not forgive. ’ Libby Lenkinski of the New Israel Fund also pointed out a sentiment that seems to be becoming increasingly clear to Israelis, to which they are extremely receptive: that what will bring the captives home safely is a sustainable ceasefire.
