The protest comes on the same day that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was sending the director of the Mossad foreign intelligence agency to ceasefire talks in Doha.
Several ambassadors to Israel have joined the weekly rally in Tel Aviv of family members and supporters demanding the government reach a deal to return the remaining hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
The protest comes on the same day that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was sending the director of the Mossad foreign intelligence agency to talks in Doha, in a sign of progress towards ending 15 months of war.
“We are in a phase of intensive negotiations, which is good. I believe that these efforts should not be interrupted or stopped,” said Germany’s ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert.
“We know that the only way to bring all the hostages home is through negotiations. Therefore, I call on those involved in the negotiations now to do the extra leg that is required to reach a deal,” said Simon Walters, the UK’s ambassador.
The weekly rallies in Tel Aviv have taken place for months on what has come to be known as ‘Hostages Square’.
They have also taken on a political dimension with many protesters demanding Netanyahu call fresh elections and step down.
They accuse him of prioritising his political survival over the lives of the around 100 hostages believed to be in Gaza.
“Six soldiers were killed in Gaza this week alone. Nearly every day more names of fallen victims are released. How much more blood will be spilled for Netanyahu’s personal interests?” said one of the protesters, Efrat Machikawa.
“It’s time, the people of Israel want this government to go. We want the war to end, and we need the hostages home,” said Idit Peterson.
Despite Netanyahu’s announcement that Mossad’s foreign intelligence chief will attend the talks, it is not immediately clear when David Barnea will travel to Qatar for the latest round of indirect talks between Israel and Hamas.
But there is increasing pressure from the US for both sides to reach a deal before Joe Biden leaves the White House and hands over to Donald Trump on 20 January.
Barnea’s presence means high-level Israeli officials who would need to sign off on any agreement are now involved.
Also being sent to Qatar are the head of Israel’s Shin Bet internal security agency and military and political advisers.
Netanyahu’s office said the decision followed a meeting with his defence minister, security chiefs and negotiators “on behalf of the outgoing and incoming US administrations.”
Just one brief ceasefire has been achieved in 15 months of war and that was in the earliest weeks of fighting.
Talks mediated by the United States, Egypt and Qatar have repeatedly stalled since then.
Israel’s newspaper, quoting Hamas sources, said the details of the ceasefire deal are “almost complete” with “90% of the details” agreed upon but sticking points remain.
Under discussion is a phased ceasefire, with Netanyahu signalling he is committed only to the first phase, a partial hostage release in exchange for a weekslong halt in fighting.
Hamas has insisted on a full Israeli troop withdrawal from the largely devastated territory, but Netanyahu has insisted on destroying Hamas’ ability to fight in Gaza.
On Thursday, Gaza’s Health Ministry said more than 46,000 Palestinians have been killed in the war, the majority women and children, though it doesn’t say how many were fighters or civilians.
The war in Gaza started in October 2023 when Hamas and other groups launched an incursion into southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages back to Gaza.
A truce in November 2023 freed more than 100 hostages, while others have been rescued or their remains have been recovered over the past year.
The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants during the war, without providing evidence.
