Dozens of Israelis closed a main road in the city of Tel Aviv to demand a deal on the release of prisoners in Gaza, holding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu responsible for “its failure.”
Israeli newspaper Maariv reported that prisoners’ families and activists closed the southbound Ayalon highway on Wednesday evening.
On the occasion of the lighting of the last candle of the Jewish festival known as “Hanukkah” (Lights), the demonstrators lit a huge menorah next to other fires in the neighborhood, according to the same source.
The families of Israeli prisoners said in a statement: “Our loved ones are experiencing a Holocaust…because of Netanyahu’s decision to abandon them there. The statement added: “Instead of ending the war in exchange for a comprehensive deal that would return all the kidnapped people, Netanyahu continues to undermine and thwart the deal. »
He continued: “As the last candle of Hanukkah comes, we don’t need miracles to bring them back, but rather real actions from our leaders.”
For more than a year, the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has confirmed its desire to conclude an agreement, and even announced its approval in May 2024 of a proposal presented by US President Joe Biden, but Netanyahu has reverse course by setting new conditions. , including the continuation of the war and the non-withdrawal of the army from Gaza, while Hamas adheres to a complete cessation of the war and a complete withdrawal of the Israeli army.
The opposition and families of Israeli prisoners accuse Netanyahu of obstructing a deal to maintain his position, while hardline ministers, including National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, threaten to leave and overthrow the government if it agrees to end the conflict. genocide in Gaza.
Since October 7, 2023, the occupying forces, with American support, have committed genocide in the Gaza Strip, leaving approximately 154,000 Palestinian martyrs and wounded, mostly children and women, and more than 11,000 missing. .
Tel Aviv continues its massacres, ignoring two arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court on November 21 against Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Galant, for committing war crimes and crimes against humanity against Palestinians.