Outrage against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has intensified following the discovery of six Israeli hostages’ bodies in a Gaza tunnel over the weekend, with ongoing violence in the region.
Protests have persisted for three nights, with tens of thousands of Israelis demanding Netanyahu secure a cease-fire with Hamas to free the remaining 101 hostages, approximately 75 of whom are believed to be alive.
Protester Yair Katz criticized Netanyahu, accusing him of prioritizing political survival over the hostages’ lives.
Netanyahu has been firm in his refusal to agree to any cease-fire deal that involves withdrawing Israeli forces from the Philadelphi Corridor, citing security concerns. Egypt and Hamas are pushing for Israeli withdrawal, with conflicting reports on whether this might be part of a future deal.
Former Defense Minister Benny Gantz argued that the corridor does not pose an existential threat and should not hinder a hostage deal. However, Netanyahu remains steadfast, leaving the future of the war uncertain.
Meanwhile, Israeli strikes continue in Gaza despite a UN vaccination campaign against a polio outbreak. Recently, a nine-year-old girl, Tala Abu Ajwan, was killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City.
The IDF maintains that their strikes target Hamas infrastructure involved in attacks against Israel.
