The streets of Tel Aviv were filled on Saturday night with thousands of protesters demanding that the government must do more to bring back the hostages from Gaza. Among them several relatives of the 130 people who are still in captivity with terrorist-branded Hamas. At the same time, indirect talks are ongoing between the parties in Oslo.
Large demonstrations took place on Saturday in Tel Aviv, Israel. Placards with images of the more than 130 people who have been held hostage by terror-branded Hamas for over 70 days were visible in the sea of people.
Raz Ben-Ami, who himself has been released by Hamas, is one of the protesters who gathered in the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday. Her husband is still held hostage by the terrorist group.
– Ten days ago I met members of the government. I pleaded with the government and we warned that fighting could harm the hostages. Unfortunately, I was right, she says.
The hostage was killed
On Friday, three hostages who apparently managed to escape from Hamas were killed – by those they were supposed to be helping: Israeli soldiers. The incident occurred in Shijayah in Gaza City.
Although the three young men allegedly waved a piece of white cloth, two of them were shot dead by soldiers who mistook them for Hamas members. The third hostage took cover and a ceasefire was ordered. But when he came out, he too was shot dead by a soldier who misunderstood the situation.
Netanyahu: Not going to back down
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a press conference on Saturday evening at the Kirya military base where he said that he will do everything to get the hostages free but that Israel does not intend to back down.
– We are more determined than ever before to continue to the end. Until we have crushed Hamas, until we have returned the hostages and until we have made sure that no one in Gaza is nurturing terrorists or engaging in terror, says Benjamin Netanyahu.
At the same time as the number of dead in Gaza increases, information comes about indirect talks between the parties in Oslo. On Friday, the Palestinians must have been there, and on Saturday, a delegation from Israel arrived together with representatives from Qatar, who mediated the previous ceasefire.