Thousands of Israelis gathered outside the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv, and urged the government to give priority to the release of prisoners who are still detained in Gaza Instead of escalating military operations in the Palestinian territories.
The demonstration was held on Saturday at a time when the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized to fill up to 60,000 reserve soldiers, indicating the intensification of its assault on Beat the Palestinian pocket.
One of the demonstrators retained the title of banners wandering Netanyahu, who read, “We have a liar, because of him that the state is burning.”
Government officials claim that the expanded military attack on Gaza will pressure Hamas to issue the remaining 59 prisoners, but critics argue that it increases their lives. The end of the rapid ceasefire, which witnessed the exchange of Palestinian prisoners who were exchanged for Israeli prisoners earlier this year, did not lead to more publications.
A video distributed by Hamas on Saturday claiming that it displays an Israeli prisoner, who was identified by the local media as Maxim Herkin. In the video, which was published for four minutes on the Internet, it is believed that Herkin is saved by Hamas members after an Israeli attack hit a tunnel and the Israeli prisoner was buried.
The families of the prisoners issued a statement saying that they spent Saturday attracted them to “painful anxiety” after the news of the planned government’s escalation and the impact that could have it on those who are still detained in Gaza.
A campaign to bring them home, a group that represents relatives, condemned this step as reckless.
The group said in the position of X.
They urged Netanyahu to abandon the attack and reach an agreement that would secure the return of the prisoners. “Stop this error,” said the group.
“The protests are not enough to influence Netanyahu.”
Speaking to the island, Israeli journalist Gideon Levy said that the protest movement is still consistent, but it lacks the momentum to challenge the Netanyahu alliance. Levy said: “It is the same old protest, very courageous and devoted, but not large enough to influence Netanyahu,” Levy said.
He pointed out that a large segment of Israeli society still supports the war effort, even amid the increasing frustration of the families of the prisoners, and that “when (the Israelis) is called to the war, they will obey.”
It seems that Netanyahu, speaking on Thursday at a public event in Jerusalem, indicates that the defeat of Hamas remains the top priority of Israel rather than the launch of the prisoners. “We want to make all our hostages home,” he said. “The war has the highest goal, and the highest goal is to victory over our enemies, and this will achieve it.”
The families of the prisoners have accused Netanyahu of undermining the previous attempts to reach a truce and exchange deal. Some believe that his rejection of the settlement reflects the political motives, which aims to ensure the survival of his right -wing far -right government, rather than the real anxiety of the prisoners.
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