Thousands of Israelis took to the streets on Saturday, December 14th, demanding a deal to secure the release of hostages still held captive in Gaza. This comes after over 14 months of war between Israel and Hamas in the Palestinian territory.
"We all can agree that we have failed until now and that we can reach an agreement now," declared Lior Ashkenazi, a prominent Israeli actor, addressing a crowd in Tel Aviv.
The sentiment echoed the desperation of Itzik Horn, whose sons remain captive in Gaza. "End the war," he pleaded. "The time has arrived for action and the time has arrived to bring everyone home."
Recent days have seen a glimmer of hope for a potential ceasefire and hostage release deal. This follows months of stalled mediation efforts.
Palestinian militants abducted 251 hostages during a Hamas attack in October 2023. Ninety-six remain captive, with Israeli authorities confirming 34 deceased.
Qatar, a key negotiator, reported "new momentum" in talks last week.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, visiting Jordan on Saturday, emphasized, "This is the moment to finally conclude that agreement."
Meanwhile, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi met with U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Middle East envoy Brett McGurk. "The meeting addressed efforts to reach an agreement for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange in Gaza," stated El-Sisi's office.
The war, sparked by Hamas' attack last year, has resulted in a devastating human cost. According to an AFP tally of Israeli figures, the Hamas attack claimed the lives of at least 1,208 people, mostly civilians.
Israel's retaliatory offensive, in turn, has killed at least 44,930 in Gaza, with the majority being civilians according to the Hamas-run health ministry (figures considered reliable by the United Nations).
