Anti-government protests erupted again in several cities in Israel, with protesters demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu find a way to strike a deal with the terror group Hamas to release more than 100 hostages still being held in Gaza, reported CNN, quoted by News.bg.
Demonstrations have been regularly held over the past month, but these were unusual in that they took place despite security warnings over an expected strike by Iran in response to the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in the Iranian capital, Tehran, several months ago days.
Despite the tense security situation, large crowds gathered in Tel Aviv to support the families of the hostages and call for their release.
According to Netanyahu's office, 115 hostages are currently being held in Gaza, of which 111 were taken during a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 that killed more than 1,200 people.
Family members of captives held in Gaza have sharply criticized Netanyahu's approach to the conflict and are demanding a public explanation for his government's failure to negotiate a deal that would lead to the release of the remaining Israeli hostages.
In a statement released on Saturday, an association representing the families accused the Israeli leader of choosing to "escalate the situation instead of securing a deal that will save lives."
Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid also posted a statement on Telegram and called on Israel's security chiefs to "tell the public the truth," writing: "If the government of Israel has given up the hostages, it must be honest with their families and stop playing games."
Anger and impatience over the slow pace of Gaza hostage releases flared this week following a new report that Netanyahu had clashed with senior advisers over whether to accept a new proposal for a hostage and cease-fire deal, which the office of the Israeli minister- chairman rejected as "incorrect."
According to Israel's Channel 12, at a tense meeting of Israel's Security Council on Wednesday night, senior officials urged Netanyahu to agree on a hostage deal and strike a ceasefire with the Hamas militant group in Gaza.
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The report states that Mossad chief David Barnea said that "there is a deal ready and that Israel must accept it," while Ronen Barr, head of Israel's Shin Bet security agency, said he believed the prime minister did not want the terms of the deal on the table.
Netanyahu reportedly slammed the table and said the team "doesn't know how to negotiate." Channel 12 did not cite its sources, and CNN has not independently confirmed the information.
In a statement, the prime minister's office denied the characterization of the alleged exchange and said Netanyahu was committed to freeing the hostages. "The head of Mossad did not say that there was a deal ready and that it had to be accepted. The description that Hamas agreed to the terms of the deal is false," the message says.
The cabinet also released another statement claiming that there were "leaks and false media briefings" for misleading the public and accuses Hamas of obstructing negotiations. "While Prime Minister Netanyahu agreed to the outline of the deal, Hamas is trying to introduce dozens of changes that de facto