Thousands of mostly women in Israel blocked an entrance to the Israeli parliament or Knesset as they demonstrated Friday for the release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, according to a story in the Jerusalem Post.
There have been weekly demonstrations demanding the hostages be released, but these normally take place on Saturday evenings after the Jewish holy day of Shabbat has passed.
Friday’s protests were organized by a group called Shift 101, which has been holding sit-in services across the street from the Knesset since Monday, the newspaper said.
They organize several services during the week to put pressure on the government to get the hostages out of Gaza. About 250 were captured on October 7, 2023, when the Palestinian Islamist Hamas militia and others invaded Israel and killed 1,200 people. According to estimates, about half of the hundred or so remaining hostages are still alive.
“We, mothers and relatives of hostages and hostages, call on mothers and fathers, women and men from all over the country to unite, beyond disputes and polarization, and join us for the most important cause of all: contributing to the return of the world. hostages. We have hope,” said a statement quoted in the newspaper.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu depends for his political survival on his far-right and ultra-religious coalition partners, who oppose a deal with Hamas.
