Protesters in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv Demand Netanyahu's Government Agreement for Hostage Release

While Doha, the capital of Qatar, is hosting ceasefire negotiations in Gaza on Thursday, several families of hostages and their supporters held gatherings in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, urging Netanyahu's government to reach an agreement for the release of hostages from Hamas. According to the Times of Israel, women activists marched on King George Street in Jerusalem, chanting that the blood of hostages killed in Hamas captivity is 'on the government's hands.' Outside the headquarters of the ruling Likud party in Tel Aviv, activists held a banner that read: 'They were taken alive, released to die. Now agree.' Egypt, the United States, and Qatar have planned a new round of ceasefire negotiations in Gaza for Thursday. Joe Biden, the President of the United States, previously proposed a three-phase ceasefire plan on May 31. Since then, Washington and regional mediators have been trying to reach an agreement for a ceasefire and the release of hostages in Gaza, but they have faced various obstacles. Hamas has announced that it will not participate in the new round of negotiations scheduled to be held in Qatar. However, informed sources from the negotiations have stated that mediators expect to consult with Hamas representatives afterward. The United States, as Israel's most important ally, has stated that a ceasefire in Gaza could reduce the risk of escalating war in the Middle East. With rising tensions following the killing of Ismail Haniyeh, the leader of Hamas in Iran, and the military commander of Hezbollah, Fawad Shukr in Beirut, the likelihood of a broader war has increased. This round of violence in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict began on October 7, when Hamas killed 1,200 people in an attack on Israel and took about 250 hostages. About 100 of the hostages were exchanged for Palestinian prisoners during a temporary ceasefire in late fall last year. Israel believes that currently, fewer than 120 hostages are held by Hamas, and it is unclear how many of them are still alive. Diplomatic efforts continue ahead of the Qatar negotiations; the U.S. Secretary of State spoke with his Egyptian and Qatari counterparts. The U.S. refrained from commenting on the possibility of the Islamic Republic's presence in the ceasefire negotiations. The U.S., Britain, and Germany emphasized the importance of establishing a rapid ceasefire in Gaza: Tehran will pay the price for harming the negotiations. The U.S. special envoy in Lebanon stated: 'A ceasefire agreement must be reached now; there is no excuse for delay.' Ambiguity surrounds the success of efforts for a ceasefire in Gaza; the New York Times reported that Hamas rejected participation in the negotiations. The Pentagon stated that the likelihood of an attack by the Islamic Republic or its proxies this week 'definitely' exists, and we are prepared to support Israel. The U.S. Secretary of State condemned the Israeli Minister of National Security's visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Joe Biden stated: 'I expect' the Islamic Republic not to attack Israel if a ceasefire is reached in Gaza.