Israeli protesters carried six empty coffins past Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem in a symbolic act following the discovery of six hostages found dead in a Gaza tunnel. The protests were fueled by pressure on Netanyahu to make concessions to Hamas and reach a cease-fire deal to free remaining hostages held for almost 11 months. Despite the public outcry and calls from President Joe Biden to secure an agreement, Netanyahu pushed back against the pressure in a press conference, emphasizing the difficulty of negotiating with those responsible for killing hostages.
The demonstrations, general strike, and ongoing pressure from families and the public have highlighted the urgent need for action to free the remaining hostages. Israel insists on retaining control of the Philadelphi corridor to prevent weapon smuggling, a point of contention in negotiations with Hamas. More protests are planned, and tensions rose when the UK announced the suspension of some arms export licenses to Israel due to concerns about potential violations of international law.
Netanyahu condemned the UK’s decision, calling it “shameful” and warning that it could embolden Hamas. Despite the setback, the US remains Israel’s biggest arms supplier. The conflict in Gaza has resulted in over 40,000 Palestinian deaths since Israel’s military response to Hamas attacks. The situation remains precarious as negotiations continue amidst ongoing protests and calls for action to secure the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza.
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