Thousands of Israeli citizens took to the streets on Saturday (5 July) in Tel Aviv, demanding the release of hostages from the Gaza Strip. The protesters demonstrated for several hours on the city’s main roads, calling on the government to secure a comprehensive and final prisoner exchange deal to ensure the release of all hostages, both living and dead.
According to the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth, protesters demanded a deal that would be complete and not selective. They are pressuring the government to reach a “comprehensive and full agreement” with Hamas.
Many family members of hostages also joined the protest. They chanted slogans urging that a partial deal should not leave some hostages behind. Several relatives took to the stage, appealing directly to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to urgently pursue a full agreement without further delay.
Meanwhile, the Israeli government announced it is sending a delegation to Doha, Qatar, to discuss a prisoner exchange with Hamas. This decision came after receiving a positive response from Hamas.
Israel’s state broadcaster reported that mediators are optimistic about a potential agreement, as differences between the two sides have narrowed.
In another development, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that Prime Minister Netanyahu is set to visit the United States on Sunday, where he will meet with President Donald Trump.
According to Israeli estimates, there are currently around 20 hostages in Gaza, with the total number being approximately 50. On the other hand, more than 10,400 Palestinians are imprisoned in Israeli jails. Human rights organizations and various media outlets report that many of these prisoners face torture, food shortages, and medical neglect, resulting in numerous deaths.
Although the international community has repeatedly called for a ceasefire, Israel has continued what many describe as genocidal warfare in Gaza since last October. So far, more than 57,300 Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children.
