Protesters blocked a highway near Tel Aviv on Tuesday, demanding the continuation of the hostage swap deal and the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Relatives of Israeli hostages blocked Highway 1 between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to protest the suspension of the hostage swap, calling on the Israeli government to honor the deal and begin the second phase of negotiations.
During the rally, protesters displayed photos of the hostages, Israeli flags and lit flares.
The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Palestinian group Hamas, said on Monday that it had postponed until further notice the release of Israeli prisoners scheduled for Saturday due to Israel’s violation of the Gaza ceasefire agreement.
The first six-week phase of the ceasefire agreement came into effect on January 19, halting Israel’s genocidal war in the Gaza Strip, which has killed more than 48,100 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured more than 111,000 since October 7, 2023.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces genocide charges before the International Court of Justice over its war in the Palestinian enclave, AA writes.
Photo: archive
