Thousands demonstrate across Israel for deal with Hamas to release hostages

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Thousands of people demonstrated on Saturday in Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities, calling for the government to secure the release of the hostages still held in the Gaza Strip.

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“The window of opportunity to bring home all 50 hostages – living and dead – is open now, and it won’t be for long,” one speaker, Eli Sharabi, said at the central rally in Tel Aviv, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

Mr Sharabi was himself abducted during the Hamas-led 7 October 2023 attacks and held hostage for 16 months in Gaza.

After his release in early February, he learned that his wife and two young daughters had been murdered during the attacks.

The body of Mr Sharabi’s brother, Yossi, is still being held in Gaza.

Addressing the Israeli government, Mr Sharabi said: “You were elected to serve this people. With humility, with modesty. It is arrogance that brought disaster upon us – and we must not return to this pattern of behaviour.”

According to official Israeli figures, 50 people kidnapped from Israel are still being held in the Gaza Strip, at least 20 of whom are believed to be alive.

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Israel and Hamas are currently holding indirect talks in the Qatari capital Doha on a 60-day ceasefire, which would also lead to the release of 10 living hostages and the remains of several others. Informed sources told dpa on Saturday that the talks had stalled, with the warring parties blaming each other for the lack of progress.

The protesters accuse Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of dragging out the process.

Mr Netanyahu’s critics say he is trying to secure his own political survival by delaying steps to end the war.

(dpa/NAN)