Thousands rally in 'Israel' demanding captives deal
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On Friday, Qatar, Egypt, and the United States issued a joint statement saying that the time had come to finalize a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and arrange for a prisoner exchange.
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Relatives and supporters of Israeli captives held in Gaza since October 7 hold placards as they demonstrate calling for their release in Tel Aviv on August 10, 2024. (AFP)
A large demonstration took place on Kaplan Street near Tel Aviv’s so-called "Hostages Square", where thousands of protesters often block traffic and clash with Israeli police.
A rally, where speakers regularly accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of abandoning the captives for his political gain, coincided with anti-government protests across "Israel".
Protesters outside the Likud headquarters in Tel Aviv were locked in cages as part of an installation displaying the prospect of a theocratic dictatorship in 2025. One cage read: “I protested for a hostage deal” and a second, which references extremist Police Itamar Ben-Gvir, said: “I said Ben Gvir is a criminal.”
Other rallies are being held in al-Quds, Haifa, Amiad Junction, Kfar Saba and beyond. In Karkur near Hadera, protesters are blocking a road as police warn them to disperse or face arrest.
This comes as a group of Israeli captive families held their weekly news conference in Tel Aviv, pressing Netanyahu to negotiate a ceasefire agreement to release captives during an impending round of negotiations in Cairo on Thursday.
On Friday, Qatar, Egypt, and the United States issued a joint statement saying that the time had come to finalize a ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip and arrange for a prisoner exchange.
One father of a captive stated that Netanyahu had "abandoned" them while another accused him of gambling with their lives to preserve his own government's survival.
"Netanyahu wants to extend the war to extend the life of his government. He is ready to drag us to an escalation instead of reaching a deal that saves lives and prevents an escalation,” she added, urging Israeli negotiators to pressure Netanyahu into a deal.
The father of another Israeli captive stated, “According to media reports, Israel agreed to come to a summit this Thursday. We have experience from summits and conferences that all ended the same. The mediators came up with solutions, but Netanyahu repeatedly botched the deal.”
The United States does not anticipate that an agreement between the Palestinian Resistance and the Israeli occupation, as facilitated by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, will be ready for immediate signing on August 15, according to a senior official in the Biden administration, as cited by Bloomberg.
In a phone call on Thursday, the US official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated, "There is still a significant amount of work to be done, with both sides holding firm to their positions."
US assures 'Israel' it can resume war if captive deal fails: Ynet
Netanyahu informed Israeli security officials that he is waiting for a commitment from the United States, ensuring that "Israel" can resume its war on Gaza if the second phase of the captive deal fails to make progress, the Israeli Ynet news website reported on Monday.
An official present at last week's meeting disclosed that Washington has agreed to provide a letter of commitment, but this would occur only after the ceasefire and captive release agreement is finalized, as per the report.
The report further stressed that the situation underscores a significant lack of trust between Israeli security leadership and Netanyahu, with security officials concerned that Netanyahu will insist on Hamas' disarmament and the expulsion of its leaders in the second phase—demands likely to be rejected, leaving many Israelis in captivity.
The American letter, discussed during Netanyahu's meeting with US President Joe Biden last month, will act as a guarantee that "Israel" will not be forced to maintain a ceasefire indefinitely, as per the report.
Netanyahu informed officials that he was delaying his approval of the deal to publicly present the letter of commitment. However, he was surprised to learn from one participant that Washington had already agreed to the terms of such a guarantee and that drafts were being exchanged, the report stressed.
The clear message, as per the report, was that this should not be an excuse to postpone the deal. Netanyahu attempted to withhold information about the administration's agreement from the security officials but failed. The letter will be issued only after Netanyahu signs the deal, reflecting mutual mistrust between Netanyahu and Washington.
