Israeli protesters in Tel Aviv demand gov’t change, captive deal with Hamas

CAIRO – 27 April 2024: Scores of Israelis have taken to the streets, calling for early elections and a deal with Hamas to secure the release of captives, more than six months after the devastating war began in Gaza.

According to Israeli reports, the protests were organized by the Change Generation movement, which emerged in the aftermath of the October 7 attack by Hamas, and it aims to advocate for captive release and a change in Israeli leadership.

Some protesters also headed to outside the residence of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, urging the finalization of a captive release deal.

Hamas is currently reviewing an Israeli counterproposal for a captive release and ceasefire agreement in Gaza, following discussions held by a high-level Egyptian delegation regarding an Egyptian proposal to halt the war.

According to Al Qahera News, the Egyptian proposal entails the release of 20-40 captives currently held by Hamas in Gaza, in exchange for Palestinian security prisoners serving lengthy sentences or who are elderly.

The Egyptian proposal includes a ceasefire and daily prisoner swaps throughout the truce period, as well as the suspension of a ground invasion in Rafah and the provision of adequate aid to Gaza.

Reports indicate that the Egyptian truce proposal in Gaza also encompasses the establishment of a Palestinian state based on the 1967 borders.

In recent months, Egypt, the US, and Qatar have acted as mediators between Hamas and Israel, striving to achieve a ceasefire agreement that allows for increased aid delivery and secures the release of more than 100 captives still held by Hamas.

Despite successive rounds of talks in Paris, Doha, and Cairo, a concrete deal has yet to be brokered, as significant gaps persist between Hamas and Israel.

The relentless Israeli airstrikes since October 7 have resulted in the deaths of over 34,000 Palestinians, with more than 77,000 injured, plunging the region into one of the most severe humanitarian crises in the world.