Israel.. Thousands Demonstrate in Tel Aviv Demanding Completion of Prisoner Swap Deal

SadaNews - Thousands of Israelis demonstrated on Saturday in Tel Aviv's demonstration square, demanding the completion of a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas.

According to Channel 13, thousands of Israeli citizens gathered to protest on Saturday afternoon in Tel Aviv, urging the acceleration of the prisoner swap deal with Hamas.

The demonstrators raised slogans such as "There will be no victory without the return of the captives (prisoners)," and "There are 50 families taken hostage in Gaza," according to the channel.

Channel 12 also confirmed that thousands of Israelis are currently gathering in central Tel Aviv to demand an end to the war on Gaza and the achievement of a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas.

Channel 13 quoted Eli Sharabi, an Israeli prisoner released by Hamas, stating, "An ethical state does not give up anyone, no matter the cost," referencing Israel's concessions regarding prisoners and its failure to finalize the prisoner exchange deal with Hamas.

The channel noted on its website that it has been 645 full days since the start of the Israeli war on Gaza, and there are still about 50 Israeli captives in the sector, without a signed agreement for a prisoner exchange with Hamas for their release.

Tel Aviv estimates that there are 50 Israeli prisoners in Gaza, 20 of whom are alive, while over 10,800 Palestinians are imprisoned in Israeli jails, suffering from torture, starvation, and medical negligence that have led to the deaths of many, according to Palestinian and Israeli human rights reports and media.

For days, the Qatari capital Doha has been witnessing a new round of indirect negotiations between Hamas and Israeli delegations, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, with American participation, aiming to reach an agreement for a ceasefire and prisoner exchange.

Over approximately 20 months, several rounds of indirect negotiations have occurred between Israel and Hamas regarding a ceasefire and prisoner exchange, mediated by Egypt, Qatar, and the United States.

During this period, two ceasefire agreements were reached, the first in October 2023 and the second in January 2025, which included partial agreements to exchange a number of prisoners.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wanted by international justice, evaded completing the latest agreement as he resumed the massacre in Gaza on March 18.

The Israeli opposition asserts that Netanyahu only desires partial deals that ensure the continuation of the war to achieve his personal political interests, particularly to maintain his power, responding to the most extreme right wing in his government.

Since October 7, 2023, with American support, Israel has been committing genocide in the Gaza Strip, resulting in approximately 196,000 Palestinians dead or wounded, most of whom are children and women, along with more than 10,000 missing, in addition to hundreds of thousands displaced and famine that has claimed the lives of many, including dozens of children.