Hundreds of Israelis protest, urging Netanyahu to finalize hostage swap deal

By Abderaouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) - Hundreds of Israelis took to the streets across the country on Friday, with the largest demonstration taking place outside the residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Western Jerusalem.

Protesters, many dressed in white, voiced their demands for an agreement that would facilitate the exchange of prisoners with Palestinian factions in Gaza.

According to the daily Yedioth Ahronoth, the demonstrators called for the immediate return of all Israeli hostages currently held in Gaza.

The protest outside Netanyahu’s residence featured the mother of one of the Israeli captives, Niva Wenkert, who demanded that Netanyahu "do the right thing today" and sign an agreement to bring the hostages home.

The protests followed the announcement by Netanyahu’s office that the Israeli negotiating team was headed to Qatar to resume indirect negotiations with Hamas, brokered by Qatar and Egypt.

Israeli Channel 12 reported that while there has been some progress in the negotiations, significant gaps remain between the two sides, with no breakthroughs yet.

Sources indicated that Netanyahu may have held a meeting to discuss the delegation’s negotiating powers before their departure for Qatar.

Efforts led by the US, Egypt, and Qatar for a permanent cease-fire have so far failed, mainly due to Netanyahu’s refusal to halt the war.

The Israeli army has continued a genocidal war on Gaza that has killed more than 45,500 victims, mostly women and children, since a Hamas attack on Oct. 7, 2023, despite a UN Security Council resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire.

In November 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its deadly war on Gaza.

* Writing by Ikram Kouachi.