Thousands Of People In Tel Aviv Demand Israeli Government To Resign

JAKARTA - Israeli protesters on Saturday (13/1) closed the main road in Tel Aviv to demand the resignation of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the release of Israeli prisoners from the Gaza Strip, according to Israeli media.

Protesters calling for the dissolution of the Israeli government led by Benjamin Netanyahu and the release of hostages from Gaza closed Jalan Ayalon as part of their protests, according to a private TV channel Channel 12, quoted by Antara.

According to him, the road closure is an unusual step.

It was also stated that the police had arrested eight Israelis suspected of participating in the action.

The road closure coincided with a demonstration by thousands of residents in downtown Tel Aviv demanding the release of hostages detained in Gaza, according to Channel 12.

Hundreds of people are also reportedly demonstrating in Haifa City. They demanded the immediate resignation of Netanyahu's government which was deemed to have failed to control the war in Gaza.

The action comes as the armed wing of the Hamas Brigade Al-Qassam announced Saturday that they had lost contact with a group that has held four Israelis detained in Gaza since 2014.

Hamas linked the negotiations on the release of Israeli hostages to the "total cessation of war in the Gaza Strip", a demand that Israel often rejects, stating its understanding of the interim humanitarian pause.

Egypt and Qatar together with the United States spearhead efforts to achieve the second temporary humanitarian break in Gaza.

Previously, the first humanitarian break had been agreed in November and resulted in the release of 105 prisoners, including 81 Israelis, 23 Thai nationals, and one Filipino citizen.

A total of 240 Palestinian prisoners were also released by Israel under the agreement.

On October 7, Hamas launched an attack on Israeli settlements near Gaza that left 1,200 Israelis dead and 5,431 others injured and 239 hostages arrested.

Israel estimates that the 137 hostages are still being held in the Gaza Strip,' according to media reports and statements by Israeli officials.