Israelis protest in Tel Aviv, al-Quds to demand exchange deal progress

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
26 Jan 2025 01:13

Israeli protests gathered in front of Netanyahu's residence and the Security Ministry headquarters to demand the completion of the ceasefire deal.

Listen

Israeli demonstrators protest calling for their government to complete the ceasefire deal with the Palestinian Resistance, in Tel Aviv, occupied Palestine, on January 25, 2025. (AP)

Israeli settlers, including the families of those held captive by the Palestinian Resistance in the Gaza Strip, staged demonstrations in both Tel Aviv and occupied al-Quds, on Saturday.

They vowed to intensify their efforts to pressure the Israeli government into securing the release of all captives, demanding that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu carry on negotiations for the second phase of the three-part deal.

Coming after the release of four Israeli female soldiers, the protest in Tel Aviv was the first since the ceasefire deal took effect on January 19.

Nearly a thousand Israeli demonstrators gathered in front of the Behin Street entrance to the Israeli Security Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv, warning against efforts to thwart the deal.

A nephew of one of the captives said that Israelis must not be "swept away by euphoria" and "must remain alert."

He cautioned that Israeli ministers and media outlets continue "devoting energy to thwarting the ideal."

The protester also called out far-right Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who voted against the deal alongside seven others, saying that he "is determined to sentence to death" the captives who have not been released.

Another group of protesters gathered outside Netanyahu's residence in occupied al-Quds, calling on him to fully implement the ceasefire deal with the Palestinian Resistance.

"Continue the deal, stop the war!" Israeli settlers chanted.

The first phase of the ceasefire deal will last for 42 days and has seen the release of two batches of Israeli captives and Palestinian detainees. So far seven captives have been released while nearly 300 Palestinians have been liberated from Israeli prisons.