In Israel, thousands of people demonstrated again for the release of the hostages in the Gaza Strip. According to a media report, the military itself is in favor of a ceasefire. This further weakens Netanyahu’s position.
The demonstrators’ anger at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is becoming greater and clearer: “You are responsible for October 7th,” shouts the father of a victim in Jerusalem in front of Netanyahu’s residence. “And now you’re trying to blame others. Shame on you!”
In Tel Aviv, three former army spokesmen go on stage in front of thousands of people. One is Avi Benayahu. He accuses the head of government of putting his own political survival above the lives of the hostages. “The prime minister will soon have to choose between his radical coalition and his responsibility for the citizens of Israel,” he says. “The hostages are not the price to be paid for the war. The hostages are paying the price for a policy that has failed. And if there is no deal now, they will die.”
A demonstrator holds “Rache ist nicht Victory” in German at a demonstration in Tel Aviv that reads “Revenge is not victory.”
Protesters demand Netanyahu’s resignation
The 136 hostages have been in the hands of their captors for almost four months. The army believes around 30 of them are already dead.
The demonstrators are demanding Netanyahu’s resignation and new elections. Fania Oz-Salzberger, a writer like her father Amos Oz, said in Haifa: Before the country can recover and find itself again, the government must go. It belongs on the darkest pages in Israel’s history book.
Military leadership for Armistice?
The Israeli television station Kan reported that the army leadership had no objection to a ceasefire lasting several weeks. After all, no hostage has been freed through military force. Even if no military representative was quoted by name, Netanyahu’s position – that the war must first be “finished” until there is a comprehensive victory – is further weakened.
This evening the Hamas leadership will comment on a possible ceasefire and the release of hostages, it was said. The start of negotiations at least seems conceivable.
Meanwhile, Khan Yunis’ Israeli army continues to advance towards Rafah in the very south of the Gaza Strip. Despite the warnings from German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, there were particularly many residents of the coastal strip who wanted to seek safety from the bombings.
Christian Wagner, ARD Tel Aviv, tagesschau, February 4th, 2024 11:42 a.m