Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has apologized to Israelis for failing to return six hostages found dead in Gaza on Saturday, as Hamas warned of the possibility of others returning to their families in shrouds if a ceasefire agreement is not reached. His comments came as intense street protests against his handling of the negotiations erupted for the second time in Israel.
International pressure also increased after the United Kingdom suspended some arms sales to Israel, citing the risk that the equipment could be used to go against international law.
But the Israeli prime minister struck a defiant tone, insisting that his troops must control the Philadelphia-Gaza corridor, a strip of land which is strategically important and is a sticking point in negotiations with Hamas.
Israelis in their thousands took to the streets on Monday in fresh protests called by the hostages’ families to express their anger at Netanyahu’s failure to secure the release of their loved ones after nearly 11 months.
The Times of Israel reported that police employed considerable aggression in managing the demonstration outside the prime minister’s residence in Jerusalem, including violently pushing protesters, throwing some to the ground and dragging several others.
The Times of Israel reported that one member of the police squeezed the throat of one of its reporters.
The latest demonstrations come after hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets in protests across the country on Sunday, with some demonstrators blocking a major highway in Tel Aviv.
Many were dressed in Israeli flags and hung yellow ribbons, a symbol of solidarity with the hostages – from a bridge overlooking the Ayalon Highway.
A total of 97 hostages are still missing after being kidnapped by Hamas on October 7.
On Monday, Hamas said that the hostages would be returned inside coffins if Israel’s military pressure continued, and added that “new instructions” had been given to militants guarding the prisoners if Israeli troops approached.
“Netanyahu’s insistence to free prisoners through military pressure, instead of sealing a deal means they will be returned to their families in shrouds. Their families must choose whether they want them dead or alive,” said a spokesman for the group, without elaborating on the new orders.
Earlier on Monday, Israel’s largest trade union said hundreds of thousands of people had joined a general strike called to pressure the government to accept a ceasefire deal and the release of hostages with Hamas in Gaza.
Despite this, Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport reported limited disruption and many restaurants and hospitality services were operating normally.
Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich boasted that Israelis had gone to work “en masse” and proved they were no longer slaves to political exigencies.
Elsewhere, US President Joe Biden accused Netanyahu of not doing enough to secure a hostage and ceasefire deal with Hamas, amid reports suggesting a new proposal would be sent to the Israeli prime minister as “final”.
Many accuse Netanyahu of blocking a deal by prioritizing his own political survival – a claim he disputes.
Netanyahu’s far-right allies have threatened to pull out of the coalition government, jeopardizing his chances of staying in power, if he accepts a deal linked to a permanent ceasefire before the destruction of Hamas.
Mediators from the US, Egyptian and Qatari are trying to negotiate a ceasefire deal that would see Hamas release the 97 hostages still being held, including the 33 presumed dead, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
On Monday, UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy said that his country had suspended 30 of Israel’s 350 arms export licenses, citing a “clear risk” that the equipment could be used to commit serious violations of international law.
Affected equipment includes parts for fighter jets, helicopters and drones. Lammy said the UK continues to support Israel’s right to defend itself and that this does not amount to an arms embargo.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant posted on X that he was “deeply disheartened” by the decision, while Foreign Minister Israel Katz said it sent a “very problematic message” to Hamas and Iran.
Meanwhile, funerals had been held for some of the hostages killed on Saturday.
The mother of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, one of the hostages whose body was recovered by Israel on Saturday, spoke at his funeral and said she had been in “such torment and worry” about him for months.
Rachel Goldberg-Polin said it was a great honor to be the mother of her son. At the time of his abduction, Hersh had sent two text messages to his family, in which he wrote: “I love you guys” and “I’m sorry.”
Mourners lined the streets of Jerusalem and Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke to relatives at the funeral.
The war in the Gaza Strip began after Hamas crossed the Gaza border, killing 1,200 Israelis and kidnapping 251 on October 7.
Since then, Israel has killed more than 40,000 Palestinians in revenge attacks, according to Gaza’s Ministry of Health, which is run by Hamas.
Source: BBC News
