Families of Israeli hostages vow mass protests if Netanyahu blocks Gaza cease-fire deal

By Abdelraouf Arnaout

JERUSALEM (AA) - Families of Israeli captives in Gaza on Thursday threatened Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stage mass rallies if he fails to reach a cease-fire and prisoner swap deal with Palestinians.

In a statement on X, the Association of Families of Israeli Prisoners Detained in Gaza said millions of people will demonstrate if the Israeli government does not accept the deal.

"We won't allow government ministers to undermine the agreement again, and sabotage another deal," the statement said. "We will not abandon the 120 hostages for the second time," it added.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told families of captives that a prisoner swap deal is "closer than ever," according to Israeli Channel 12.

The Israeli public broadcaster KAN also reported that the cabinet will meet Thursday evening to review Hamas' response to a Gaza cease-fire proposal that also includes a prisoner swap deal.

CNN, citing an Israeli source familiar with the negotiations, said that Israel and Hamas "appear to be on the brink of a framework agreement for a cease-fire and hostage release deal."

The source added that Israeli officials believe Hamas’ latest response will enable the two parties to enter detailed negotiations to reach an agreement.

Mediators have delivered a response from Hamas to a proposal that would include the release of hostages held in Gaza and a cease-fire in the territory.

Israel is evaluating the remarks and will convey its reply to the mediators, said a statement released by Netanyahu's office on behalf of the Mossad spy agency on Wednesday.

Hamas also confirmed late Wednesday that its leader Ismail Haniyeh held talks with Qatari, Egyptian, and Turkish officials to review developments regarding a cease-fire deal in Gaza.

The group stressed that it has "engaged positively" with the cease-fire developments.

Egypt, Qatar, and the US have been trying for months to secure a truce and the release of 120 remaining hostages in Gaza, but to no avail.

Hamas says any deal must end the war and bring a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Israel, however, argues it will accept only temporary pauses in the fighting and wants to end the governance capabilities of the resistance group.

US President Joe Biden announced an Israeli truce plan in May, which includes the gradual release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza and the pullback of Israeli forces. It also envisages the freeing of Palestinian prisoners and the reconstruction of Gaza.​​​​​​​

Israel, flouting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire, has faced international condemnation amid its continued brutal offensive on Gaza since an Oct. 7, 2023 attack by the Palestinian group Hamas.

Nearly 38,000 Palestinians have since been killed, mostly women and children, and over 87,000 others injured, according to local health authorities.

Over eight months into the Israeli war, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, whose latest ruling ordered it to immediately halt its military operation in the southern city of Rafah, where over a million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar