Relatives of Israeli hostages block road in Tel Aviv

In the evening, a group of about a hundred people, consisting of relatives of Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip and those supporting them, gathered in front of the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv.

The protesters chanted slogans against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the ruling coalition, demanding that the government sign a ceasefire in Gaza and a mutual hostage exchange deal with Hamas.

Carrying banners reading "Deal now", "Bring them home immediately", "Help" and pictures of the Israeli hostages in Gaza, the protesters blocked Menachem Begin Street in front of the Ministry of Defense to traffic for a while.

Israel's state television KAN had reported that a hostage exchange deal with Hamas would be discussed at the meeting of the Israeli War Cabinet and the expanded government.

HOSTAGE EXCHANGE NEGOTIATIONS HAD ENDED WITHOUT RESULTS

Hamas had announced on April 13 that it had conveyed its response regarding the ceasefire proposal to Israel to Egypt and Qatar.

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office had also issued a statement saying that Hamas's response was generally negative.

Hamas Political Bureau member and West Bank official Zahir Jabarin had stated that "they would absolutely not hand over the Israeli hostages without a real deal."

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is being accused by the Israeli and international public of not making a hostage exchange deal with Hamas for political reasons.

It is stated that the main disagreements between the parties are Hamas's demand for a permanent ceasefire, while Israel insists on continuing its attacks on Gaza.

Information is being shared that while Hamas demands the return of more than 1.5 million forcibly displaced Palestinians within the Gaza Strip to their homes in the north, Israel insists on continuing its ground invasion in Gaza.

High-level figures in the Netanyahu government, including Israel's far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, argue that the hostages should not be Israel's top priority and that destroying Hamas is more important.

Some hostage relatives state that they have been subjected to physical attacks during demonstrations where they called on the government, in addition to the reactions they received from Netanyahu supporters on social media.

According to Israeli authorities, there are more than 130 Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip, some alive and some dead.

Hamas's armed wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, had announced that the number of Israeli hostages killed in Israel's attacks on Gaza had exceeded 70.

News Source: AA