Protests in Israel for Prisoners in Gaza Strip
Protests have continued every Saturday in Doha, calling for a ceasefire agreement to return Israeli prisoners from the Gaza Strip and the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, following the latest round of negotiations in Doha. Thousands of people across Israel have criticized the lack of political will to return prisoners from Gaza and have reiterated their demands for the resignation of what has been described as the “most right-wing government” in the country’s history and for early elections.
The protests took place in major cities such as Tel Aviv, Haifa and Jerusalem, as well as in Caesarea, where Netanyahu resides, and in many other parts of the country. The protesters demanded the resignation of the government and the return of the prisoners. The center of the protests in Tel Aviv was the area around the Ministry of Defense building, where thousands of Israelis gathered in the evening hours. The prosecutors, holding Israeli flags, carried banners, posters and signs against Prime Minister Netanyahu and the representatives in his government.
Protesters held signs reading “All home now” and “Help” and beat drums and whistles, calling for Israeli prisoners to return home as soon as possible. They also chanted slogans denouncing Netanyahu, including “(Netanyahu) Bibi, release the prisoners” and “You are in charge, you are guilty”.
Families of Israeli prisoners in the Gaza Strip have accused the Israeli government of not complying with the ceasefire agreement. Ayalet, the daughter-in-law of Israeli prisoner Yoram Metzger, who attended the demonstration in Tel Aviv, told AA, “We are struggling to get the Israeli government to sign the agreement. We told the government, ‘Enough is enough.’ ” Stating that Netanyahu is doing everything he can to avoid signing the agreement, Ayalet Metzger said, “I hope this week’s efforts will make him sign the agreement.”
Protesters lit fires at several points on Menachem Begin Street, which faces the gate of the Ministry of Defense complex. Israelis also marched in West Jerusalem, demanding that the government make a deal to release the prisoners. Protesters, who want the government to resign and sign a deal to return the prisoners from the Gaza Strip, blocked roads and intersections in various parts of the city.
As a result of Israeli police using force against demonstrators at some points, a scuffle broke out. Negotiations have been ongoing for a long time between the parties to stop the attacks that Israel launched on the Gaza Strip on October 7. Netanyahu is accused both in Israel and internationally of not making a prisoner swap agreement with Hamas for political reasons.
Negotiations between Israel and Hamas were held in Doha, the capital of Qatar, on August 15-16, for the purpose of a prisoner exchange and reaching a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. However, it was reported that the provisions added by Israel to the agreement had a negative impact on the negotiations and that Hamas did not accept the terms added by Netanyahu to the draft presented by the US. Israel continued its violence in the Gaza Strip in the process leading up to the negotiations. The Israeli army sent orders to forcibly evacuate Palestinian civilians from areas previously declared as safe zones, and announced that it would launch new attacks.
It is stated that in Israel’s attacks on Gaza, the loss of life exceeded 40 thousand, mostly women and children, in a period of more than 10 months, and that this situation deepens the humanitarian disaster with each passing day.
