The World Today
Relatives of Israelis kidnapped in the Gaza Strip demonstrated once again Saturday against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, demanding that he accept the ceasefire agreement and phased release agreed to by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).
Einav Zangauker, one of the most vocal opponents of Netanyahu, has openly called on the prime minister to accept the agreement. "If Netanyahu signs this agreement this Sunday, we could be negotiating the return of the remaining hostages in exchange for an end to the war," he said during an event in Tel Aviv.
"If the conquest of Gaza City begins, there will be no agreement," he warned, before accusing Netanyahu of "putting obstacles (to the agreement) and blaming Hamas" while planning to take over the main city in the Palestinian enclave.
Meanwhile, Yehuda Cohen, father of kidnapped soldier Nimrod Cohen, has appealed to US President Donald Trump to pressure Netanyahu to sign an agreement that will end the war and allow for the release of all the hostages. "This is the time. More lives will be lost and our loved ones will die" if there is no agreement, he warned.
There were also protests this Saturday morning outside the home of Itamar Ben Gvir, leader of the far-right Jewish Power party and Minister of National Security, who is accused of "torpedoing the agreement."
Last Sunday, relatives gathered around a million people in protests—500,000 in Tel Aviv alone—alongside an informal general strike demanding an agreement for the hostages' release.
Hamas announced on Monday that it has accepted a ceasefire proposal presented by mediators Qatar and Egypt. "Hamas and the Palestinian factions announce their approval of the proposal presented yesterday by the Egyptian and Qatari mediators," read a brief statement reported by the Islamist group's affiliated daily, Filastin.
The Israeli government, however, insisted on Sunday that Hamas must immediately release all hostages, dead or alive, held by Palestinian militias, and demanded their immediate disarmament, as well as the demilitarization of the Strip, Israeli control of the perimeter of the enclave, and the establishment of a government independent of Hamas and the Palestinian Authority that "coexists in peace with Israel."
