Families of captives held by Hamas have strongly rejected the plan approved by the Israeli security cabinet to reoccupy Gaza City, calling it a death sentence for living hostages. Demonstrators holding placards and photos of the captives said the Israeli government must secure the captives.
Reporters covering the event estimated the number to be thousands, while the group representing the families of captives said the number was more than 100,000. The reports indicated that this was perhaps one of the biggest anti-government rallies held in Israel.
One of the family members of a slain captive, Shahar Mor Zahiro, warned the Netanyahu government that, "We will end with a direct message to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: if you invade parts of Gaza and the hostages are murdered, we will pursue you in the town squares, in election campaigns and at every time and place."
Earlier on Friday, Netanyahu’s security cabinet approved a plan to reoccupy Gaza City, which quickly triggered a wave of massive domestic and international criticism International powers, including Israel’s long-term allies, have rejected the move, saying it would jeopardise the safety of the captives held by Hamas.
Also Read: Gaza war exposes Israel’s internal divisions
In a post on social media late Friday, Netanyahu said, "We are not going to occupy Gaza -- we are going to free Gaza from Hamas. The Palestinian Authority on Saturday slammed Israel's occupation plan to launch another intense military operation. Israel's so-called plan was approved only after the US special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, blamed Hamas for rejecting the peace deal, while it has been Israeli negotiators who are finding it difficult to roll back armed forces from Gaza and allow more humanitarian aid to flow into the devastated enclave.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, as many as 37 people were killed by the Israeli forces on Saturday alone, including 30 aid seekers. Israel’s war on Gaza has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's health ministry, figures the United Nations says are reliable.
Also Read: Israel has no intensions to re-occupy Gaza says Netanyahu
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