Demonstrations sweep the streets in several areas in Israel demanding an exchange deal with Hamas and hold Netanyahu accountable
Thousands of Israelis demonstrated Saturday in several parts of the country to demand a prisoner exchange deal with Palestinian factions in Gaza.
Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper said thousands of Israelis demonstrated in the cities of Jerusalem, Rehobut, and Kfar Saba to demand an exchange deal.
According to the same newspaper, “hundreds of Israelis demonstrated in Jerusalem, in front of the house of the Minister of Interior in the Israeli government, Aryeh Deri”.
Demonstrators held banners reading, “Make a deal or resign,” according to the newspaper.
In Kfar Saba in northern Israel, “thousands of Israelis demonstrated and demanded a deal and early elections,” Yedioth Ahronoth reported.
“Hundreds more demonstrated in the city of Rehobut near Tel Aviv to demand an immediate deal leading to the release of 115 Israeli detainees in the Gaza Strip,” according to the same newspaper.
Tel Aviv estimates there are 115 Israeli prisoners in Gaza, and Hamas announced that more than 70 prisoners were killed in indiscriminate raids by the Israel, which holds at least 9,500 Palestinians in its prisons.
Channel 12 also said that hundreds of Israelis gathered in front of Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem, and demanded that he conclude an exchange deal before he leaves for Washington, in addition to holding early elections.
On Sunday, Israeli Energy Minister Eli Cohen expected to reach a prisoner exchange deal within two weeks, according to an interview with Channel 12.
The opposition and families of prisoners accuse Netanyahu of blocking a deal, fearing the disintegration of his ruling coalition and the loss of his position, as far-right ministers threaten to withdraw from the government and bring it down if it accepts a deal that includes stopping the war.
