Protesters accuse Netanyahu of ‘finishing hostages’ at weekly anti-government rallies

Carrying a bus-sized banner that reads: “Netanyahu is finishing the hostages,” protesters on Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv join thousands demonstrating there against the government.

The rally this evening is one of the dozens of weekly demonstrations that are occurring across the country, calling for early elections, the replacement of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government, and calls for them to make a deal with Hamas to retrieve dozens of Israeli hostages believed to be held in Gaza.

Thousands are rallying also around the prime minister’s official residence in Jerusalem and near his private one in Caesarea. Other cities with anti-government protests include Haifa, where hundreds marched from the Carmel Center to the Horev Center, Beersheba and Herzliya.

Between Ra’anana and Kfar Saba, protesters block Road 4 at the Ra’anana Junction as police warn them to move or face crowd dispersal means and arrests.

An Israeli team is currently negotiating with Hamas for the release of some hostages in exchange for a temporary ceasefire and the release of many Palestinian prisoners, among other Hamas objectives.