The march began on Tuesday in the coastal metropolis of Tel Aviv, about 70 kilometers away. Protesters carried blue and white Israeli flags and yellow balloons. Many held posters with photos of those kidnapped.
They demanded an immediate agreement from the government to release the hostages who have been held in the Gaza Strip for six weeks. “Now, now, now,” they sang over and over again. “Humanitarian aid only in exchange for the release of all hostages,” read one banner.
Portal/Ronen Zvulun Some participants wore yellow as a sign of solidarity
Immediate agreement required
The color yellow symbolizes solidarity with kidnapped children, women, men and elderly people. Many Israelis have been wearing yellow ribbons on their wrists for weeks and tying them in highly visible places.
The protest march was called by the Forum for Families of Hostages and Missing Persons, which was founded after the major Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, in order to maintain public awareness of the approximately 240 people who were abducted in the Strip. of Gaza. Several banners read “A hostage deal, now.”
March for hostages reaches Jerusalem
Tens of thousands of participants in a protest march for hostages held by the Islamic terrorist organization Hamas arrived in Jerusalem. The march began on Tuesday in the coastal metropolis of Tel Aviv, about 70 kilometers away.
Last week, Netanyahu spoke to US broadcaster NBC about a possible deal to release hostages. “We will only agree to a temporary ceasefire in Gaza and only in exchange for the repatriation of our hostages,” he said on Saturday of negotiations to release those abducted.
US President Joe Biden also expressed cautious optimism on Friday following talks with the ruler of the Gulf emirate Qatar that such a deal would be reached. So far, four hostages have been released following mediation by Qatar and Egypt, including two US citizens and two Israelis.
Portal/Ilan Rosenberg Tens of thousands of people moved to Jerusalem because of the approximately 240 kidnapped hostages
Demonstration in Tel Aviv against the war in Gaza
In Tel Aviv, on Saturday night, several hundred people demonstrated against the war in Gaza. The demonstration on the beach promenade took place at the initiative of the left-wing Chadash party, as reported by Israeli media. Jewish and Arab Israelis protested together against the continuation of the military operation in the Gaza Strip.
“An eye for an eye and we will all be blind”, said one of the posters. Kan TV station reported that people called for the replacement of “the worst government in Israel’s history.”
The Ynet news website reported that there was a counter-demonstration with several dozen participants. There were verbal and physical confrontations between both sides. Anti-war protesters were attacked with water bottles. Participants in the counter-demonstration also chanted “Go to Gaza” and “Death to the Arabs,” Ynet reported.
Hamas reports attack on Jabalya
In response to the Hamas attack, Israel began attacks on targets in the Gaza Strip and ground troops have already moved to the area. According to Hamas figures, which cannot be independently verified, around 12,000 people have been killed in Palestinian territory since the attacks began.
Wildner (ORF) on protests in Israel
ORF correspondent Nikolaus Wildner reports on protests by families of hostages kidnapped by Hamas.
According to Hamas, more than 80 people were killed in two Israeli attacks on the Gaza city of Jabalya on Saturday. The UN-run Al-Fakhura school in Jabalya, which is used as a shelter for refugees, was bombed on Saturday, a representative of the Hamas-run health ministry told AFP news agency. 50 people were killed. According to ministry officials, 32 members of a family were killed in a second attack on another building.
Images shared online showed bodies covered in dust and blood at Al-Fakhura school, where mattresses were strewn under school desks. The information and authenticity of the recordings could not be verified. The Israeli army said the reports were being examined.
Conflicting information about the evacuation request
Meanwhile, Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza city has largely been evacuated. According to the Ministry of Health, only around 120 injured people and an undetermined number of premature babies remain in the largest clinic in the Gaza Strip.
Previously there was contradictory information about the evacuation of Al-Shifa Hospital. The Israeli military had previously stated that the evacuation was taking place at the request of its director, but denied ordering the evacuation.
debate
Middle East: How to break the spiral of violence?
There were reports from the AFP news agency on Saturday morning that the Israeli army was given one hour to evacuate the hospital. Instead, they responded to a request from the hospital director that people who wanted to leave the hospital premises do so via a “safe route,” according to the army. The Israeli army never ordered the evacuation.
It was even suggested that any call for medical evacuation would be supported by the army, a statement said. Medical staff must stay with patients who cannot be removed. The Israeli army also provided the hospital with additional food, water and humanitarian aid.
APA/AFP/Israeli Army In recent days, the Israeli army has conducted operations at Al-Shifa Hospital
Al-Shifa Hospital in the spotlight
The hospital was at the center of fighting early last week when Israeli forces searched the site and said they found weapons, ammunition and equipment belonging to Hamas terrorists.
Israel accuses Hamas of establishing a large command center in and below Al-Shifa Hospital. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke explicitly about the discovery of an underground Hamas command center. There is no evidence of this yet.
Report: Hamas leader fled south
Israeli TV station Kan also reported Saturday that Israel presumes Hamas leaders Jahja Sinwar and Mohammed Deif escaped to the south during the war. They are believed to be in the area of Chan Yunis city, where Sinwar was born. However, the broadcaster did not name the source of this information.
Sinwar is the head of the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip and Deif is the commander of Hamas’ armed wing, the Al-Kassam Brigades. Both have been in Israel’s sights since the October 7 massacre in the Israeli border area.