Israeli captives families surround Blinken in his Tel Aviv residence
3 Min Read
Israeli media reports that the captives' families are demanding that an exchange deal be reached with the Palestinian Resistance in Gaza.
-
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken goes out to the families of captives demonstrating outside his residence in Tel Aviv in occupied Palestine, on May 1, 2024. (Social media)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, while in his Tel Aviv residence, was surrounded by protesting families of Israeli captives held by the Resistance in Gaza, who were demanding that an exchange deal be reached.
The families vowed to intensify their protests in the coming phase, citing the occupation government's inability to finalize an exchange agreement during this crucial juncture amid ongoing deliberations and negotiations facilitated by intermediaries.
Read more: Families of captives: Israeli govt must pick between captives or war
According to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, they emphasized that if the failure to reach a deal occurs, it would be due to self-serving political interests.
The families clarified that the escalatory steps would involve imposing a siege on Israeli decision-makers. They affirmed that they would impose a "million-man besiegement of the Knesset" and the Ministry of Security, noting that no officials would enter or exit except by helicopters.
They also stressed that they "will remain in the public arenas without returning to their homes," the newspaper said.
Rafah invasion imminent
For many weeks now, Israelis have been flooding the streets of Tel Aviv and several other areas, demanding that Netanyahu resign over his performance in the war on Gaza, including his continued dismissal of an exchange deal.
Last week, Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades released a video of an Israeli it is holding captive in the Gaza Strip, in which he addressed settlers and the occupation authorities.
The video resulted in many of the captives' families rallying outside Netanyahu's residence in occupied al-Quds. The crowd demanded that the Israeli government ensure a deal to release captives held by the Palestinian Resistance and raised signs that read: "Bring them home now".
However, despite warnings that an attack on Rafah would probably kill many captives, Netanyahu said on Tuesday that an invasion of the densely populated Rafah city will take place regardless of whether an exchange deal with the Palestinian Resistance was reached or not.
"The idea that we will stop the war before all its goals have been achieved is irrelevant. We will enter Rafah and destroy Hamas battalions there, with or without an agreement [on hostages], to achieve absolute victory," he told families of the captives held in the Strip.
