Israeli hostage families in Tel Aviv blame Netanyahu for deaths of 6 prisoners

JERUSALEM

Dozens of families of Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip gathered in Tel Aviv's HaBima Square on Thursday, demanding an exchange deal with Palestinian group Hamas.

The demonstrators carried six empty coffins draped in Israeli flags, symbolizing the six hostages whose bodies were recovered from a tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip last week.

Israel's public broadcaster Kan reported that the families held a news conference, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of abandoning their loved ones.

"Prime minister, you have abandoned our sons. If you won't bring them back, we will make sure to do so ourselves. The neglect must end, here and now," they said.

The protest highlighted growing frustration with Netanyahu's handling of the situation, especially after his recent statements defending Israel's continued military presence in the Philadelphi Corridor on the Gaza-Egypt border.

Netanyahu has repeatedly emphasized that achieving military objectives in Gaza depends on controlling this corridor, stating that Israel "will never withdraw" from it.

However, critics, including the families of the hostages, argue that Netanyahu's insistence is hindering negotiations for a potential prisoner-hostage swap with Hamas.

Despite months of criticism from the families, Netanyahu has not budged on the issue.

For months, the US, Qatar, and Egypt have been trying to reach an agreement between Israel and Hamas to ensure a prisoner exchange and a cease-fire and allow humanitarian aid to enter Gaza.

But mediation efforts have been stalled due to Netanyahu's refusal to meet Hamas' demands to stop the war.

Israel has continued its brutal offensive on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 Hamas attack despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire.

Nearly 40,900 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed and over 94,400 others injured, according to local health authorities.

An ongoing blockade of the enclave has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine, leaving much of the region in ruins.

Israel faces accusations of genocide for its actions in Gaza at the International Court of Justice.

*Writing by Mohammad Sio