Thousands of Israelis have gathered in central Tel Aviv to protest against Prime Minister Netanyahu and demand the signing of an agreement for the release of prisoners in Gaza.
Al Jazeera reported that the demonstrators expressed their opposition to Netanyahu’s cabinet policies and called for an immediate agreement on prisoner exchanges. The protesters emphasized the need to end the war and bring back captives from Gaza. According to videos shared online, the demonstrators blocked several streets in different areas, demanding a comprehensive agreement for the return of the prisoners. Israeli media have also reported that the police engaged with the protesters, especially in a location where Netanyahu was seeking to attend the final Passover ceremony.
Earlier, Netanyahu’s spokesperson stated that it is not possible to return all prisoners from Gaza at once, describing the claims as psychological warfare from Hamas. Meanwhile, Hamas has repeatedly indicated its readiness to release all Israeli prisoners in a single step if the war ceases, the full withdrawal of occupying forces from the Gaza Strip occurs, and humanitarian aid along with reconstruction efforts are permitted to enter the area. Yair Lapid, the leader of the Israeli opposition parties, responded to the spokesperson’s remarks by asserting that these comments indicate the cabinet’s neglect of the prisoners’ plight. The families of Israeli captives have also emphasized that Netanyahu and his spokesperson must understand that the majority of Israelis support the return of the prisoners in exchange for the end of the war.