Families of captives protest outside Israeli ministers’ homes
Relatives of captives held in Gaza and their supporters have been protesting again outside the homes of Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Foreign Minister Gideon Saar and Defence Minister Israel Katz.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum said a proposed ceasefire and captive-prisoner exchange is on the negotiating table but has not been discussed by the security cabinet, which instead continues to seize Gaza City, “endangering both hostages and soldiers”.
“Bring our loved ones home, alive and dead. End the war, return the soldiers and reservists to their families. The Cabinet is bringing destruction upon the people of Israel,” the forum said.
Michal Lavi, protesting outside Katz’s home, directed her anger at the defence minister: “How many more children will we sacrifice? Are you willing to explain what happened since day 629 when you said we must pursue a two-phase deal? Two full weeks that you haven’t discussed the deal that’s on the table, the framework you provided that Hamas agreed to.”
Israel’s silence ‘exposes’ Netanyahu’s aim to continue the war
Menachem Klein, a senior lecturer at Israel’s Bar-Ilan University, says Israel’s lack of a response to a ceasefire proposal that Hamas agreed to two weeks ago essentially amounts to a rejection.
“Hamas agreed to what Netanyahu asked for,” Klein said, adding that Israel’s silence has “exposed” Netanyahu’s aim to continue the war.
“It’s clear to everybody that Israel refuses any deal unless it achieves what Israel calls total victory, which means annihilation of any regime in Gaza and then putting an Israeli regime over Gaza … like by an agent.”
More protests in Israel over government ignoring a deal
The families of captives held in Gaza have called on all Israelis to join them in urging the security cabinet to sign a deal with Hamas for their return.
Israel’s Channel 13 is also reporting that students have announced they will suspend the start of the school year on Monday in protest against the delay in bringing the captives home.
