KUALA LUMPUR – Hundreds gathered at Tel Aviv’s Habima Square to call for immediate elections as a response to the ongoing siege on Gaza and the failure of the Israeli government to secure the release of more hostages.
Demonstrators on Saturday night were also calling for the Israeli military to withdraw from Gaza, as well as placards criticising Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his hardline coalition, reported Time Times of Israel.
“The cry of mothers: Get our soldiers out of Gaza now,” read one banner, while another said, “Israel will not survive if we don’t bring him down.”
The protest was organised by the anti-government protest group Hofshi Israel and bereaved families, among others.
Another group of hostage families and supporters gathered near the square for an 11th straight week to slam the lack of effort to secure the remaining hostages held by Hamas.
Of the 129 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 105 were released during the seven-day truce deal in late November.
Four were released before that, and one was rescued by the Israeli military. The remains of eight hostages were recovered, while three were mistakenly killed by the military. Demonstrations were also held last week in Tel Aviv and other towns.
However, Netanyahu renewed his pledge yesterday to eliminate Hamas from Gaza and promised that the war would drag on for “many months”.
“The war will continue for many months until Hamas is eliminated and the hostages are returned.
“We will guarantee that Gaza will no longer pose a threat to Israel,” he was quoted as saying in a press conference by AFP.
When asked about another hostage release deal, Netanyahu said Hamas had been “giving all kinds of ultimatums that we didn’t accept”.
It was reported on Friday that a Hamas delegation was in Cairo to discuss a plan for the staggered release of Palestinian prisoners and an end to the war.
Since the relentless assault on Gaza, at least 1.5 million people have been left homeless and 21,672 have been killed.
At least 56,165 have been injured in Israeli attacks, while Israel’s death toll stands at 1,139. – December 31, 2023