Live UpdateFrom the Liveblog of Wednesday, January 24, 2024

Women’s groups to protest nationwide for return of hostages held in Gaza

24 January 2024, 9:24 am Edit
Protesters rally outside the prime minister's official residence in Jerusalem, calling for the release of Israelis held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, January 22, 2024 (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)
Protesters rally outside the prime minister's official residence in Jerusalem, calling for the release of Israelis held hostage by Hamas terrorists in Gaza, January 22, 2024 (Chaim Goldberg/Flash90)

Women’s groups are set to hold protests throughout the day calling for a deal to that would see the hostages released from Gaza.

Rallies are set to be held across the country, as well as in New York.

The central rally will be held in Tel Aviv at 7 p.m.

The rallies came a day after freed hostages gave harrowing testimony at the Knesset on the rape and sexual abuse inflicted on hostages held in Gaza.

Meanwhile, it was reported that Israel and Hamas broadly agree in principle that an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners could take place during a monthlong ceasefire, but the framework plan is being held up by the two sides’ differences over how to bring about a permanent end to the Gaza war.

It is believed that 132 hostages abducted by Hamas on October 7 remain in Gaza — not all of them alive — after 105 civilians were released from Hamas captivity during a weeklong truce in late November. Four hostages were released prior to that, and one was rescued by troops. The bodies of eight hostages have also been recovered and three hostages were mistakenly killed by the military. The IDF has confirmed the deaths of 28 of those still held by Hamas, citing new intelligence and findings obtained by troops operating in Gaza.

One more person is listed as missing since October 7, and their fate is still unknown.

Hamas is also holding the bodies of fallen IDF soldiers Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin since 2014, as well as two Israeli civilians, Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed, who are both thought to be alive after entering the Strip of their own accord in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

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