Israel: Angry protesters demand ceasefire deal after six more detainees killed in Gaza

According to Al Jazeera report, Israeli people have come out on the streets in large numbers and are demanding ceasefire and the return of people held hostage by Hamas.

Protesters chanted “Now! Now!” and demanded that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reach a ceasefire deal with Palestinian group Hamas to allow the remaining detainees to return home.

Clashes broke out between protesters and security forces on Sunday night, according to Al Jazeera, in one of the largest anti-government protests in Israel since the Gaza war began nearly 11 months ago.

According to Al Jazeera, many protesters blocked roads in Tel Aviv and demonstrated outside Netanyahu’s office in West Jerusalem.

The Hostage and Missing Families Forum, which represents families of those taken hostage in Gaza, said the deaths of the six hostages were a direct result of Netanyahu’s failure to broker a deal to stop the fighting and bring their loved ones back home.

“They were all killed in the last few days after suffering abuse, torture and starvation for nearly 11 months in Hamas captivity,” the forum said.

Gil Dikman, a cousin of Carmel Gat whose body was among those returned, urged Israelis to put more pressure on their government.

“Get out on the streets and keep the country closed until everyone comes back. They can still be saved,” Dickman posted on X.

Meanwhile, for the first time since October 7, Israel’s largest trade union federation, the Histadrut, has called for a general strike to pressure the government to sign a ceasefire agreement.

The Israeli military has killed at least 40,738 people and wounded 94,154 in its war on Gaza since October 7. An estimated 1,139 people were killed in Israel during Hamas-led attacks on October 7, and the group took about 250 people prisoner.