JERUSALEM

Families of Israeli captives on Sunday staged a protest outside the home of Ron Dermer, Israel’s minister for strategic affairs and chief negotiator in prisoner exchange talks.

According to Israel’s Channel 13, demonstrators called on Dermer to “resume negotiations immediately or step down” from his role.

Israeli authorities estimate that 59 captives remain in Gaza, with only 24 believed to be alive. Meanwhile, more than 9,500 Palestinians are held in Israeli prisons, amid reports of mistreatment and medical neglect.

The demonstration follows Hamas’ announcement that it accepted a new ceasefire proposal from mediators aimed at resuming negotiations.

However, later that evening, Netanyahu’s office said Israel had reviewed the proposal and submitted a counteroffer to mediators, in full coordination with the US.

On March 1, a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal brokered by Egypt and Qatar expired. Hamas adhered to the agreement, but Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu refused to implement its second phase.

The Israeli army launched a surprise aerial campaign on the Gaza Strip on March 18, killing more than 920 people, injuring more than 2,000 others, and shattering the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement.

More than 50,200 Palestinians have been killed, mostly women and children, and over 114,000 injured in a brutal Israeli military onslaught on Gaza since October 2023.

The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.