TEL AVIV, Israel – Protests continued for a second night in Tel Aviv as family members of Israeli hostages held by Hamas gathered outside Israeli military headquarters. The families blame Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for stalling cease-fire negotiations with Hamas.
Thousands of protesters chanted “Now! Now! Now!” and blocked a major road in downtown Tel Aviv. Some even handcuffed themselves together and blocked the gates during a meeting of the war cabinet. The demonstrators are demanding the safe return of the hostages, who were taken by Hamas on October 7.
The families have accused Netanyahu of mishandling the security failures leading to the Hamas attack and the subsequent war in Gaza. They believe that the Prime Minister’s actions have further jeopardized the lives of the remaining hostages, some of whom are elderly or injured.
After more than 100 hostages were freed in exchange for Palestinian detainees during a November pause in fighting, Israeli authorities estimate that over 100 hostages remain in Gaza. Advocates are warning that time is running out for the hostages, who have been held in Gaza for 19 weeks.
The Cairo negotiations, which aimed to secure the safe return of the hostages, collapsed after Netanyahu pulled out the Israeli team, prompting outrage among the hostage families and the international community. Diplomats, however, have disclosed that negotiations continue behind the scenes, suggesting that Netanyahu’s public statements do not reflect the full extent of the ongoing discussions.
Despite heavy rain and cold winds, thousands of protesters came out to call for action, holding Netanyahu accountable for the policies that allowed Hamas to flourish and the subsequent security failures. Public support for the Prime Minister has dropped to all-time lows, with many Israelis demanding early elections and calling for his resignation.
While anger against Netanyahu grows, analysts believe that a critical mass of opposition is unlikely to be reached until the Gaza war is concluded, tensions ease along the border with Lebanon, and the remaining hostages are safely returned home.