Demonstration against Benjamin Netanyahu in Tel Aviv, Israel – Europa Press/Contact/Eyal Warshavsky
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April 13 (EUROPA PRESS) –
Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Tel Avivi and other Israeli cities one more Saturday to protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, demand the calling of early elections and an agreement for the release of the Gaza hostages.
The Police have installed barricades on Kaplan and Begin streets, the usual scene of protests, as well as at the nearby access to the Ayalon highway, a recurring target of cuts by protesters, according to 'The Times of Israel'.
Initially, the agents prevented protesters from gathering at the intersection of Kaplan and Begin streets, renamed Democracy Square, arguing that there were not enough attendees. Finally the Police have given in to the demands and have allowed traffic to be cut off.
Once the demonstration is over, attendees plan to join the protest called by the families of kidnapped people on Begin Street to demand an agreement for the release of the estimated 129 hostages kidnapped in the Gaza Strip by Palestinian militias since December 7. October.
One of the participants in the event, Einav Zangauker, mother of Matan, kidnapped in Gaza, has denounced that Netanyahu is “torpedoing” a possible agreement. “You are responsible for the abandonment of the Gaza hostages. Because of you there are Israeli women being raped right now in Gaza. Because of you there are Israeli men being tortured in Gaza. Because of you there are hostages being murdered in captivity. Yes , because of him,” he declared.
Netanyahu himself has come out against these statements. “Contrary to this information, the only obstacle to achieving the release of the hostages is Hamas and not any factor on the Israeli side,” the Prime Minister's Office highlighted in a statement.
“Among other things, Hamas calls for an end to the war and a complete withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces from the Gaza Strip. The government and security forces are united in their rejection of these delusional demands,” he added.
Netanyahu has thus highlighted that “despite the broad mandate received by the negotiation team (…) Hamas has rejected an agreement to this day.” “The instructions from the political sphere were given after consulting with the negotiation team with the aim of achieving the release of our hostages and preserving the security of Israel, without further considerations,” he stressed.
