Thousands of people demonstrated in Tel Aviv this evening to demand the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip and an end to the fighting after 20 months of war.
The crowd gathered at the so-called Hostage Square, chanting “The people choose the hostages!” and demanding a “comprehensive agreement” for their release.
Hamas published a photo of one of the remaining hostages, Matan Zangauer, who appears to be in poor health, with a warning that he will not survive.
His mother, Einav Zangauer, speaking at the protest in Tel Aviv, said, “I can no longer bear this nightmare. The angel of death, Netanyahu, continues to sacrifice the hostages,” referring to the Israeli prime minister.
Noam Katz, daughter of hostage Lior Rudaef, who has been declared dead but whose body is still in the Gaza Strip, called for an immediate end to the fighting.
"Don't send more soldiers to risk their lives to bring our fathers back. 
Bring them back through an agreement. Stop the war!" she said in the square.
On June 6, the Israeli army announced the death of four soldiers in the Gaza Strip and said it was short of 10,000 soldiers to meet its needs in the Palestinian territory.
Negotiations to end the fighting, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the US, have so far been fruitless. | BGNES, AFP