Families of hostages held by the Hamas terrorist organization in the Gaza Strip blocked Thursday the southbound lanes of the Ayalon Highway, a major traffic artery in Israel.
The demonstration comes in response to a deadlock in negotiations to secure the release of the captives. Some 120 Israeli hostages are being held in Gaza, of whom 43 have officially been declared dead.
Video: Families of hostages block Ayalon Highway in protest of stalled talks
The families also lamented a recent statement by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in which he said that he was willing to accept a partial agreement with Hamas, that is, one that would only secure the release of some of the hostages.
"In light of the stalled negotiations and Netanyahu's statement that he's willing to consider a partial deal, family members burned a cage on the highway with the word 'Help' written on it," stated a spokesperson for the protesting families. The demonstrators have called on the public to join their struggle to "bring back the hostages and save the country."
The families accused the prime minister of abandoning the hostages, saying he was willing to "bury them in Gaza as long as he kept his seat."
Since Oct. 7, "265 days have passed since they were kidnapped, and due to the prime minister's mismanagement, we're reaching a point where Israel no longer has leverage over Hamas for a deal."
The protesters expressed grave concerns about the potential expansion of the conflict. "If a campaign opens in the north before we finish the war in the south and bring back the hostages, Netanyahu will bury not only the captives in Gaza but the entire country," they warned, stressing that "only a deal that returns all the hostages and ends the war in the south will save the country."
