Scuffles Erupt Between Zionist Police, Protesters Demanding Return of Israeli Captives
AL-QUDS (Dispatches) –
Scuffles between the Zionist regime’s police and protesters erupted in Tel Aviv on Saturday after thousands gathered to demonstrate against the regime and demand that it bring back the captives being held by Hamas in Gaza.
Some protesters in Tel Aviv carried photos of the female soldiers who appeared in a video earlier in the week showing them soon after they were held captive during the Hamas operation on Israeli-occupied territories on Oct. 7. Some held banners reading “Stop the war” and “Help.” They called on the regime to reach a deal to release the dozens of captives still in captivity.
The protesters also called for the resignation of Zionist prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and demanded new elections.
“We all saw the video, we could not stay at home after the regime abandoned all these people,” said Hilit Sagi, from the group “Women Protest for the Return of All Captives.”
Divisions among Israelis have deepened over how Netanyahu has handled the aggression against Palestinians. Israel says around 100 captives are still being held in Gaza, along with the bodies of around 30 more.
“Basically they are not doing enough in order for the captives to come back, either with military force, with (a) captives’ deal, negotiating. Nothing is being done,” said Snir Dahan, uncle of hostage Carmel Gat, still in captivity in Gaza.
Earlier in the week, the bodies of three captives killed were recovered from Gaza, Israel’s army said Friday. The army said they were killed on the day of the operation and their bodies were taken to Gaza. The announcement came less than a week after the army said it found the bodies of three other Israeli captives killed on Oct. 7.
Around half of the 250 captives taken by Hamas and other fighters have been freed, most in swaps for Palestinian prisoners held by the Zionist regime during a weeklong ceasefire in November.
Netanyahu’s cabinet has faced increasing pressure, both at home and abroad, to stop the war and allow humanitarian aid into the enclave that is home to 2.3 million Palestinians, almost 80 percent of whom have been displaced.