Huge protests in Israel as public demand deal to release hostages | BBC News

Tens of thousands of people have rallied across Israel after the bodies of six hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip were recovered by soldiers, causing national outrage.

Protesters, many clad in Israeli flags, descended on cities including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, demanding that their government reaches a deal to secure the release of the remaining hostages taken by Hamas during the 7 October attacks.

The protests were largely peaceful but in Tel Aviv crowds broke through police lines, blocking a main highway. The demonstrations came as on of Israel's biggest labour unions, Histadrut, called for a nationwide general strike, demanding that the government reach a deal with Hamas.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said earlier that the six bodies were found in an underground tunnel in the Rafah area of southern Gaza. The hostages were identified as Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi and Master Sgt Ori Danino. The IDF said they had been killed shortly before its troops reached them.

News of the deaths fuelled the protests, with many Israelis accusing their government of not doing enough to secure the release of the remaining hostages.

Jane Hill presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Lucy Williamson in Jerusalem.

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[Mr.mahroom]

The Palestinian prisoners who were killed also have names, and the Palestinian children and women who were killed in horrible ways had names and pictures and had loved ones waiting for them.

[cj]

6 hostages?
What about 40K+ Palestinian dead?

[mattyh]

Is it also antisemitic for Israelis to protest for a ceasefire?

[into_the_void]

Surprise... It was never about the hostages

[mussachichajr]

The outcomes of arrogance of Netanyahu regime

[madtrades]

You never show the names and lives of the Palestinans who diead

[Nephaulaux]

I’d like to see the BBC give the names of the Palestinian deceased. You know, show a bit of impartiality and journalistic balance - Palestinians are humans and have names too.

[matthewdowling]

BBC at it again. It's not 10's of thousands. It is 100's of thousands.

[reneebarclay]

They assasinated the Hamas negotiator, without considering the impact on the hostages.

[TonnyTK]

Why would Hamas have any interest in killing their most valuable assets? It doesn't make any sense

[dotman]

no matter who pulled the trigger, Netanyahu has blood in his hands here.

His government knew that Hostages were being held in Gaza, but taking the land was more important to them than the lives of their own people. so they spent 11 months denying access to basic necessities (food, water and medical care) whilst simultaneously bombing to the point where they have razed it to the ground. Nowhere was safe- they hit hospitals, schools, mosques, Churches, Charity buildings and Headquarters.

What exactly did Israel expect? Did they think that the hostages would just "miraculously survive" that kind of onslaught for 11 months and come out unscathed? These are the same people who shot three escaped hostages, three of their own, after they clearly identified themselves and asked for help. They also shot their own people on October the 7th.
Normal, everyday Israelis need to understand that their leadership cares more about eradicating Palestine than it ever will about the lives of its own people, to the point where they are sacrificing them to reach their goals.

[rickoconnel]

Just give the rights of the Palestinians on their own land that's it very simple.

[LadyCleo]

What about all the oeople who have been killed on gaza?

[noahrosz]

He who murder hostages dose not want a deal got ya netanyahu you don't want a deal

[The_Voice_of_Reason]

"If I don't steal it then someone else will"
- Fat Yakob the settler from NY

[paulcritcley]

how about the captives held by the zionist state men women and childeren held without a trial there lives are just as important as the captives held by hamas

[omid]

You make these victims look so human but the thousands died in Palestine look like collateral damages and just numbers… so sick and tired of your double standards

[louisavondart]

Hamas isn't interested in any deal. They broke the last deal. Can't anyone remember that?

[JacintaPalerm]

And the dead Palestinians: elders, women men, children babies?

[VennyVex]

"Remaining hostages" Are they even alive at this point?