Two relatives of Israeli hostages abducted on October 7 were arrested during a protest outside the defense ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv Tuesday evening. The protest was in response to reports that an Israeli delegation negotiating with Hamas in Qatar had left without reaching a deal.
Israeli police cleared the protesters from Tel Aviv’s Ayalon Highway, where they were blocking traffic. Four protesters were arrested for violating order and endangering road users. Two of the arrested individuals were identified as relatives of hostages, one released and one still believed to be held in Gaza.
Following Hamas' attack on October 7, around 1,200 Israelis were killed, and more than 250 were taken as hostages to Gaza. Israel estimates that 99 people are still being held in Gaza, along with the bodies of 31 deceased hostages. The retaliatory war on Hamas by Israel has resulted in over 32,000 deaths in Gaza, according to the health ministry there.
Anti-government protests have been ongoing outside the defense ministry headquarters since the Hamas attacks. The Hostage Families Forum, representing the captives' families, has been actively protesting at the site.
Video footage from the protests showed hostage relatives in cages chanting slogans demanding action. Negotiations between Israel and Hamas for the release of hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners have hit a standstill, with a looming deadline before the Muslim holiday of Eid in April.
Despite a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire, Israeli officials continue talks in Doha. The resolution did not explicitly link the ceasefire to the release of hostages, leading to criticism from Israeli officials.
