Israeli protesters erect tents in Tel Aviv demanding exchange deal
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Demonstrators accuse Prime Minister Netanyahu of making consistent efforts to derail any potential prisoner exchange deal.
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Families and supporters of captives held by the Palestinian Resistance in Gaza hold a demonstration outside the Israeli Ministry of Security in Tel Aviv demanding a prisoner exchange agreement, on December 15, 2023. (AFP)
Israeli protesters have erected several tents on Rothschild Street, Tel Aviv's financial hub, in a demonstration calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government to negotiate an immediate prisoner exchange deal.
One of the protest organizers declared, "We have no home as long as the prisoners are in Gaza, soldiers are on the front lines, and those forced to leave their homes in the North and South are not living in their houses."
Read more: Thousands of Israelis join anti-govt rallies, call for deal
The Israeli Hostages and Missing Families Forum criticized Netanyahu for what they described as his consistent efforts to derail any potential prisoner exchange deal.
The demonstration followed a recent cabinet vote allowing the Israeli army to occupy parts of the Philadelphi corridor, a move that directly contradicts a key provision of the ceasefire deal proposed by the Biden administration and accepted by Hamas in June, which calls for the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza.
The prime minister "never lets a day go by without taking actions that endanger the return" of the captives, the forum stated.
Read more: Hamas refuses IOF control over Philadelphi, Netzarim corridors, Rafah
'Netanyahu is burying our children'
A similar protest was held during the weekend demanding that an agreement with the Palestinian Resistance be finalized and the captives returned.
Israeli protesters and the families of captives held in Gaza blocked Ayalon Street the main passage axis in central Tel Aviv, accusing the prime minister of dragging settlers into a regional war instead of bringing the captives back, all for the pursuit of political power.
The protesting settlers held banners with slogans such as "There is no reckless deal, just surrender" and "Netanyahu is burying our children" written on them.
"Who could have imagined that Netanyahu, after 326 days of abandoning power [his responsibilities], would dare to ask 'What deal?', about the deal he made himself?" the demonstrators questioned.
