Thousands of Israelis demandHostage Deal
For months, indirect talks have been ongoing between Israel and Hamas, an agreement seems out of sight. The population takes to the streets for a hostage deal. Many see the end of the war "also an end of the government".
In Israel, thousands have demonstrated against the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and for an immediate agreement in the Gaza War for the release of hostages. Before Netanyahu's departure for the USA, demonstrators in Jerusalem held up signs with the inscription "No flight without an agreement", as reported by "Times of Israel" in the evening. On Wednesday, Netanyahu is scheduled to speak before both chambers of the US Congress about Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip.
At one of the weekly demonstrations in Jerusalem, a participant, whose own grandson was kidnapped by terrorists and recently declared dead by the military in Gaza according to the newspaper, said: "Only the end of the war will bring the hostages home." The end of the war would "also mean an end of the government", he added. "So everyone can understand why this war lasts so long and why there is still no hostage deal", the man was further quoted.
For months, indirect talks have been ongoing between Israel and Hamas, with Egypt, Qatar, and the USA acting as mediators. They revolve around a three-tiered plan that involves the exchange of the approximately 120 hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli prisons, as well as steps towards a permanent ceasefire. Participants in the indirect talks have recently shown cautious optimism. However, no high-level meetings have been announced at present.
Despite the cautious optimism from participants in the negotiations, a hostage deal seems elusive, as demonstrated by the ongoing street protests in Israel. The population is calling for an immediate end to hostage-taking by Hamas during the Israel-War, believing that it could also signal the end of the current politics and government in Israel.
