Families of captives call for protest outside Knesset, prisoner swap
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Some of the protesters were seen holding placards depicting Netanyahu and reading: "UR the boss, UR to blame."
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A man holds up a sign with an image depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a protest on March 30, 2024, in "Tel Aviv", occupied Palestine. (AP)
The families of Israeli captives gathered at the "Tel Aviv" plaza on Saturday in another round of protests aimed at pressuring the regime to expedite a deal with the Palestinian resistance.
"The time has come to go out and fight against indifference and for life," Shira Elbag, the mother of one of the captives said during the protest. "I now ask you to come out with us into the streets and let us sound one united and clear voice: 'Bring them home now!'"
Demonstrations have been taking place on a weekly basis in both "Tel Aviv" and occupied al-Quds. AFP reported that they are making plans to gather in front of the Knesset next week.
Some of the protesters were seen holding placards depicting Netanyahu and reading: "UR the boss, UR to blame."
Law enforcers labeled protesters as "rioters" and asserted that the demonstration was unlawful.
"Prime minister, on behalf of the hostage men and women, on behalf of the people of Israel, give the negotiators in Qatar the order. Do not return without a deal," former captive Raz Ben Ami was quoted as saying by AFP.
"I haven't closed an eye from the thoughts and fear of what Liri and the other hostages are going through. After 176 days, the excuses are over," Elbag told AFP.
Read more: Israeli captives' families slam Netanyahu, say White House acts better
The irony lies in the fact that the captives are facing the risk of death due to Israeli actions.
Besides relentless airstrikes across the entire Strip, the regime has also imposed a strict blockade preventing the entry of food and humanitarian aid.
So far, one captive was reported dead as a result of starvation and the absence of medicine.
On March 1rst, the spokesperson for al-Qassam Brigades Abu Obeida revealed that the number of "enemy prisoners" killed by Israeli occupation forces "may have exceeded seventy."
On February 21, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that bringing back captives is not a "top priority".
![In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had "engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)](https://alpha-en-media.almayadeen.net/media/image/2024/12/21/b4a69f2e-8682-43e4-9d37-49482b304ab3/3.png?v=2&format=webp "In a 2021 interview with Frontline by former US special representative James Jeffrey, he says he had \"engaged with [HTS] via backchannels while serving in President Trump’s State Department. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)")
