Protesters in Tel Aviv and around the world on Saturday called on Israeli leaders to accept the latest road map for a ceasefire and return of hostages in Gaza, a day after President Biden said it was time for the war to end.
The Israel Hostage and Missing Families Forum said it was launching “an emergency operation” to pressure members of the government to accept the statement outlined by President Biden on Friday. The plan would begin with an immediate, temporary ceasefire and work toward the return of all hostages, a permanent end to the war and the reconstruction of Gaza.
“The Forum demands the return of all hostages, some for rehabilitation and others for burial, and not lose the opportunity that has presented itself to bring them home,” the group said in a statement on social media.
The group demanded “immediate approval of the agreement,” the statement said, adding: “Do not waste this moment!”
Netanyahu continued to call for the complete destruction of Hamas and the release of all hostages before ending the war. And two of Netanyahu’s far-right coalition partners, Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, threatened to resign from his government if he went ahead with the proposal.
The debate over the latest proposal breathed new life into the protests held every Saturday in Tel Aviv. Thousands of protesters rallied in the streets there and elsewhere in Israel on Saturday night in support of the proposal.
Some protesters covered themselves in fake blood and others walked through the streets holding the Israeli flag and signs reading “Bring them home.” Haaretz, an Israeli newspaper, reported that protesters blocked traffic in northern Israel and that at least three people were detained.
Haaretz also reported that thousands of protesters gathered near Netanyahu’s home in Caesarea, a coastal city located halfway between Tel Aviv and Haifa.
Protesters also gathered Saturday in Rome, Paris and Jakarta, Indonesia.
The United States also continued its efforts to pressure the region to work toward a ceasefire in Gaza.
Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke Saturday with the Egyptian foreign minister, the prime minister of Qatar and the foreign minister of Qatar. Egypt and Qatar have been working to help negotiate a deal. In his phone calls, Blinken spoke about the urgent need for a ceasefire and called on Hamas to accept the deal without delay, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.
Aaron Boxerman contributed with reports.