Protesters in Tel Aviv and around the world on Saturday called on Israeli leaders to accept an updated road map for a ceasefire and return Gaza hostages, a day after President Biden said the war should end.
Israeli Hostage and Missing Families Forum Said to be Launching an “emergency operation” to force administration officials to accept a declaration put forward by President Biden on Friday. The plan would begin with an immediate temporary ceasefire and work to return all hostages, permanently end the war and rebuild Gaza.
“The forum calls for the return of all hostages, some for rehabilitation, others for burial, and that the opportunity to bring them home is not missed.” The group said in a statement on social media.
The group said in a statement it called for “immediate ratification of the agreement,” adding, “Do not waste this moment!”
Netanyahu still calls for the total destruction of Hamas and the release of all hostages before the war can end, and two of his far-right coalition partners, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben Gvir, have threatened to quit the government if Netanyahu goes ahead with that proposal.
The debate over the latest proposal has breathed new life into the weekly Saturday night protests in Tel Aviv, where thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Tel Aviv and other parts of Israel on Saturday night in support of the proposal.
Some protesters were covered in fake blood, while others walked through the streets carrying Israeli flags and signs that read “Bring them home,” referring to the hostages. Israeli newspaper Haaretz Reported Protesters blocked traffic in northern Israel and at least three people were detained.
Haaretz also reported that thousands of demonstrators rallied near Netanyahu's home in the coastal town of Caesarea, halfway between Tel Aviv and Haifa.
Protesters also gathered in Rome, Paris and Jakarta on Saturday.
The United States also continues to push for a ceasefire in Gaza.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke on Saturday with Egypt's foreign minister, Qatar's prime minister and Qatar's foreign minister. Egypt and Qatar have been trying to broker a deal. In the call, Mr. Blinken spoke of the urgent need for a ceasefire and called on Hamas to accept the deal immediately. explain Matthew Miller, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department.
Alan Boxman Contributed reporting.
