Israel Protests Escalate Amid Hostage Negotiations
A wave of yellow, a color that has become essential in rallies, has once again swept over Israel. Several rallies took place in the country on Sunday to demand that the government accept a ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages, as the war enters its tenth month. This day of “disruption” began at 6:29 a.m., the time when the attack by Hamas fighters against southern Israel began on October 7, 2023. Demonstrators notably blocked traffic, for the second day in a row, on certain axes of Tel Aviv. Among them, many repeated slogans calling for elections to be held while waving Israeli flags.
Heightened Security and Public Sentiment
In the middle of Democracy Square, a brass band accompanied demonstrators wearing clothes crossed out with political slogans. The crowd was dotted with yellow – banners, ribbons, hats, etc. – a color that has become essential in rallies demanding the government make the release of hostages a priority. “Bring them home now,” participants still chanted, in reference to the 116 people kidnapped on October 7 and still held in the Gaza Strip (42 of whom died, according to the Israeli army). Police increased security around Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem after an upcoming rally was announced. On Saturday evening, demonstrators faced mounted police before water cannons were fired to disperse the gathering which was blocking a highway.
Negotiations and Ongoing Conflict
Nine months after the Islamist Hamas massacre in Israel, relatives of the hostages are demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu finally reach an agreement and are gaining new hope. The protests were fuelled by reports that there was progress in the negotiations brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the US after a long standstill. According to Israeli sources, they are set to resume next week. “For the first time in many long months, we have hope again,” said one protester whose son was kidnapped during the terrorist attack on the Gaza Strip nine months ago. “This is an opportunity that we cannot miss!” she shouted.
Meanwhile, the fighting in Gaza continues for the time being. According to Palestinian sources, 16 people were killed in an airstrike on a refugee shelter in the middle section of the sealed-off area. It was a former school belonging to the UN refugee agency UNRWA, they said. The Israeli military announced that it had attacked several Hamas fighters in the area of the UNRWA school. The terrorists had used the facility as a hideout and base of operations for attacks on the Israeli military. Steps had been taken in advance of the attack to minimize the risk to civilians. The information provided by both sides could not be independently verified.
