'Deal now': Israeli families protest amid Netanyahu's Congress speech
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As the war on Gaza rages and a ceasefire is yet to be implemented, families of Israeli captives are growing more impatient with the Israeli leadership.
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A woman holds a flare as families and supporters of Israeli captives held in the Gaza Strip since October 7 protest outside the US Embassy branch office in Tel Aviv on July 24, 2024. (AFP)
Thousands of Israeli settlers have taken to the streets to protest and demand a ceasefire as their Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed US Congress.
"Get out of the AC, get out of your houses, and come to the street!" one of the protesters shouted via a microphone to passersby watching from bars and balconies in Tel Aviv.
As the war on Gaza rages and a ceasefire is yet to be implemented, families of Israeli captives are growing more impatient with the Israeli leadership.
While "Israel's" staunch ally has continued to provide support and military supplies for the war, relations have been strained due to the rising civilian death toll and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
In response to Netanyahu's speech, the Israeli advocacy organization the "Hostages and Missing Families Forum" stated, "45 minutes of speech and applause won't erase the one sad fact: the words 'Deal Now!' were absent from the prime minister's address."
In Tel Aviv's "Hostage Square", relatives of Israeli captives implored him to stop the war, with one person stating, "Every day that passes and our people are still there it's a shame to our country."
"Deal now," the demonstrators yelled in response.
Israeli Occupation Force (IOF) announced Monday that two additional Israeli captives held in the Gaza Strip have died, adding that the captives' deaths were confirmed through intelligence, and noted that the circumstances were under investigation by the relevant authorities.
Netanyahu begs US to fast-track military aid to expedite Gaza war end
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pleaded with the US on Wednesday during his speech at Congress to fast-track military aid to "Israel" to end the war in Gaza.
"I deeply appreciate America's support, including in this current war. But this is an exceptional moment. Fast-tracking US military aid could dramatically expedite an end to the war in Gaza and help prevent a broader war in the Middle East," Netanyahu told the US lawmakers.
His request for more and fast-tracked military aid from the US is only to be applied on the ground in Gaza as seen since October 7. The IOF has in many cases deployed US-supplied heavy bombs to kill innocent Palestinian civilians.
He claimed that he was actively working to free the captives in Gaza, expressing optimism that such efforts would be successful.
Netanyahu voiced confidence in the ongoing efforts to secure the release of Israeli captives held in Gaza with Noa Argamani, one of the released captives, present at the event.
"I'm confident that these efforts can succeed, some of them are taking place right now," Netanyahu said, adding, "I want to thank President (Joe) Biden for his tireless efforts on behalf of the hostages."
