Israeli police dispersed demonstrators protesting on the streets of Tel Aviv against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this Sunday (25). The protest ended in much confusion and arrests, although the number of detainees was not disclosed.
Stun bombs and water cannons were launched into the crowd. Police officers on horses also acted to put an end to the march, which brought together thousands of protesters. There was a lot of pushing and shoving.
Anti-government protesters joined together with family and friends who called for the release of the hostages, who remain in the Gaza Strip under the power of Hamas.
As they marched, the group also called for elections to replace Netanyahu, accusing the prime minister's government of corruption and criticizing its handling of the war against Hamas in Gaza following the October 7 attacks.
There were also protests in the cities of Haifa, further north in Israel, and Rehovot, on the outskirts of Tel Aviv.
Families of hostages called for the immediate resumption of negotiations with Hamas to “move forward on an agreement that brings everyone back”.
The total number of people kidnapped in Israel and detained in Gaza is 125, according to a count based on figures from the Israeli Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Of these, 121 were kidnapped on October 7 and four others were already detained before the attacks.
The cabinet believes that at least 37 hostages are dead and the bodies are held in Gaza. Israel considers hostages those kidnapped who are still alive, as well as those who are dead.
On Friday (24), Israeli authorities said they found the bodies of three hostages in Jabalia, in northern Gaza. Among the victims was Michel Nisenbaum, a 59-year-old Brazilian who lived in Israel. The other two hostages had gone to the Nova electronic music festival, where they were kidnapped by Hamas.
Deadlocked negotiations
The prospects for a resumption of negotiations for a ceasefire grew this Saturday (25), although Israel carried out new attacks in the Gaza Strip.
In one of them, at least 10 people, including children, died after a drone struck a school that was being used as a shelter, according to Palestinian health professionals.
An official with knowledge of the matter told Reuters that negotiations were expected to resume next week. The decision to return to the talking table was taken after a meeting between the head of the Israeli intelligence agency Mossad, the head of the CIA (American intelligence agency) and the Prime Minister of Qatar, Mohammed bin Abdul Rahman Al Thani.
The source, who declined to be identified by name or nationality, said it had been decided that “next week negotiations will resume based on new proposals led by the mediators, Egypt and Qatar and with the active involvement of the US.”
However, a Hamas official denied that negotiations would resume in Cairo on Tuesday (28). He told Reuters there was “no date”.
After more than seven months of war in Gaza, mediators have struggled to secure a breakthrough, with Israel seeking the release of hostages held by Hamas and Hamas seeking an end to the war and the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel.
So far, nothing seems to be moving forward.
With information from Reuters…
Source: CNN Brasil
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