Thousands of people demonstrate in Tel Aviv, other cities for hostage deal

Tel Aviv [Israel], August 12: Thousands of people demonstrated in Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities for an agreement to release 115 hostages held by the Palestinian Hamas movement, the newspaper Haaretz reported.
A speaker at the rally, whose uncle was abducted to the Gaza Strip, said, "The military pressure on Hamas will lead to more hostages dying." The mother of another abductee called out to the crowd, "This is our last chance to reach a deal that saves lives." Further protests took place in Jerusalem, Haifa, Beersheba and Caesarea in front of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's private villa, according to media reports.
Indirect negotiations between Israel and Hamas for a ceasefire in the Gaza war and the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners being held in Israeli jails have been ongoing for months. The United States, Egypt and Qatar are mediating. (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune