‘Jewish blood is not cheap’: Demonstration against hostage deal reaches Knesset

A hundreds-strong demonstration against the hostage deal between Israel and Hamas has reached the Knesset.

Families of slain soldiers are speaking outside the legislative building, insisting that the deal constitutes surrender.

“The goal of these Arabs — Hamas and everyone around — is to tarnish Israel’s honor,” says Yoram Eliyahu, a religious Zionist rabbi whose son Yedidya fell in Gaza.

Behind the families, demonstrators carry coffins representing the Israeli soldiers killed in the war with Hamas.

“Bibi wake up, Jewish blood is not cheap!” the protesters, mainly Orthodox teenagers, chant, addressing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by his nickname.

Separately, Zvika Mor, the father of hostage Eitan Mor and one of the founders of the hawkish Tikva Forum, says he asked to speak at a Religious Zionism faction meeting earlier today but was turned away.

He urges Religious Zionism leader Bezalel Smotrich to resign from the coalition rather than allow the deal to go through.

“Dissolve the government, you must not let that deal be approved,” Mor says in a video statement. “This deal will leave my son behind in Gaza for many more years — I’m not prepared for that to happen.”