Dozens of families held hostage by the radical Palestinian movement Hamas in the Gaza Strip gathered outside the home of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calling for him to take a “bold step” to bring their loved ones back home. This was reported by Times of Israel.
On the evening of January 19, relatives of the Israelis set up tents near the politician’s house in Caesarea as part of the protest and spent the night there. Ela Ben Ami, daughter of an Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) hostage, said that calls for the hostages to be returned have turned into calls for their lives.
The protest followed reports in Israeli media suggesting that Netanyahu had decided to unilaterally tighten a set of guidelines recently established by the government for a potential deal to release the remaining hostages. Journalists noted that this provoked mixed reactions in the war cabinet. War Cabinet spokesman Gadi Eizenkot insisted on a long-term ceasefire with Hamas in exchange for the release of the hostages; this proposal was supported by National Rally Party leader Benny Gantz, but Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant opposed it.
The situation in the Middle East escalated on October 7, when thousands of armed supporters of the radical Palestinian movement Hamas entered Israel from the Gaza Strip, attacked civilians and kidnapped more than 200 hostages. In response, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that the country was at war. A ground operation was launched, its aim was to bring back the hostages and completely destroy Hamas.
January 15 Galant addresses the nation statedHe said that the country’s defense army (IDF) has completed the phase of active hostilities in the north of the Gaza Strip and plans to stop intense fighting in the south of the Palestinian territory in the near future.
The minister also expressed the view that the Gaza Strip should be governed by a Palestinian government composed of forces that do not threaten Israel.
Previously Netanyahu saidHow long will the war between Israel and Hamas last?