Israelis Demand Hostage Deal in Tel Aviv Protest

Hundreds of Israeli protesters gathered in Tel Aviv demanding a deal to release all hostages held in Gaza, and against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

Many waved the Israeli flag and chanted as they called for the hostage deal to be finalized.

The protesters criticized the government's handling of the conflict with Hamas in Gaza and the increasing tension with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Egypt, the United States and Qatar have scheduled a new round of ceasefire negotiations for Thursday as fears grow of a broader conflict involving Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah.

The demonstrations come with Israel on high alert as it anticipates threatened reprisal attacks, by Iran and its proxies, for the killings of Hezbollah top commander Fuad Shukr in Beirut and Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran at the end of July.

The parallel protest, which has in past weeks often joined with the Hostages Forum, was organized by a group of around a dozen hostage families operating under the name “Kulanu Hatufim” (We are all hostages), who are known for their fiery protests outside IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv and for blocking the Ayalon Highway.

Demonstrations were also scheduled in dozens of towns and cities across Israel, including in Jerusalem, Haifa, Eilat, Beersheba, Herzliya, Netanya, Modiin and Ra’anana.

Netanyahu, who has said he will not end the war until Hamas no longer poses a threat to Israelis, said he would send a delegation.

Israel launched its assault on Gaza after Hamas fighters stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and capturing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Since then, nearly 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive in Gaza, according to the health ministry.