Tel Aviv, the capital city, has been in a state of upheaval due to the protests of thousands of Israelis, including the families of Israeli citizens detained in Gaza. They allege that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is delaying the rescue of hostages under the guise of a war against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
At a press conference near the headquarters of the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv on Saturday, family members of the hostages said, “Netanyahu is reluctant to rescue the hostages in the name of starting a war in occupied northern Palestine, he does not have the power to abandon them.”
The families complain that Netanyahu is neglecting the lives of their relatives detained in Gaza. At the same time, they are concentrating on increasing the tension on many fronts. In this situation, they called on President Isaac Herzog to intervene immediately to pressure Netanyahu’s government to negotiate a hostage exchange deal with Palestinian groups.
About 9,500 Palestinians are currently held in Israeli government prisons. On the other hand, approximately 101 Israelis are detained in Gaza. Hamas said that many of its hostages were killed by Israeli airstrikes in Gaza.
Talks between the Tel Aviv government and Hamas on an indirect ceasefire and prisoner exchange have recently reached a critical stage. Netanyahu is determined to continue the war in Gaza and take control of key corridors in the south and central areas.
However, Hamas has been demanding the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from Gaza and the unimpeded return of displaced Palestinians. Meanwhile, tensions between Israel and Hezbollah rose after an Israeli airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut killed at least 45 people on Friday.
Hezbollah said at least 16 of its members were killed in the attack, including top leader Ibrahim Aqeel and commander Ahmed Wahbi. Earlier on Tuesday and Wednesday, the Lebanese government and Hezbollah blamed Israel for the explosions in Pager and Wakitki. However, the Tel Aviv government has not commented on its role.
Meanwhile, while Hezbollah and Israel continue their border war, the ongoing Israeli offensive in Gaza has so far killed nearly 42,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children.
Source: Anadolu Agenc.