"Time is running out"

Thousands of Israelis demand the release of hostages

Mounted police took action against the demonstrators in Tel Aviv.(Bild: APA/AFP/JACK GUEZ)

Thousands of people demonstrated in Israel on Saturday evening for the release of hostages held hostage by the Islamist Hamas and against the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In Tel Aviv, they chanted "Time is running out, bring them home!". According to Hamas, a 34-year-old Israeli hostage died due to "lack of medicine and food".

The demonstrators set several small fires on the streets in the center of the coastal metropolis and blocked a main traffic artery. The slogans were also directed against Netanyahu, who critics accuse of failing to manage the crisis following the Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7.

"Prisoners of our government"
In addition, the head of government is subordinating the fate of the hostages to the necessities of his political survival, according to many demonstrators. "Whoever abandoned them must bring them back!" they shouted. As on previous Saturdays, they demanded the resignation of the Netanyahu government and new elections. One of the speakers said: "My cousin Ofer has been a prisoner of Hamas for 169 days. And we have been prisoners of our government for 169 days."

Terrorists from Hamas and other extremist groups from the Gaza Strip killed 1,200 people in their massacre last October and abducted another 250 as hostages. Israel then attacked the Palestinian coastal strip with massive military force in order to crush Hamas once and for all. Just over 100 hostages were released during a ceasefire in November.

An estimated 100 hostages are still alive
At the beginning of February, the Israeli military declared that 31 of the hostages held in the Gaza Strip were dead. According to Israeli estimates, almost 100 hostages held by Hamas are probably still alive. Israel is currently negotiating their exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails in the Qatari capital Doha, mediated by the USA, Egypt and Qatar.

Bargaining in Qatar
Several hundred people also demonstrated outside Netanyahu's official residence in Jerusalem on Saturday evening. "Decisive negotiations are taking place in Qatar these days," said one speaker, whose brother is among the hostages. "Israel's government must not let this opportunity pass."