Israeli protesters carried six empty coffins past Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem to symbolize the deaths of six hostages found in a Gaza tunnel. Pressure is mounting on Netanyahu to make concessions to Hamas and reach a cease-fire deal to free the remaining hostages held in Gaza for nearly 11 months. Hundreds of thousands of Israelis have participated in demonstrations and a general strike, with President Joe Biden urging Netanyahu to do more to secure an agreement after months of fighting. One major point of contention is Israel’s demand to control the Philadelphi corridor to prevent weapons smuggling, a claim denied by Hamas. Netanyahu pushed back against the pressure in a press conference, insisting on not making concessions despite the public outcry and grief over the hostages’ deaths. Israel says 101 hostages remain captive in Gaza, with a third presumed dead. Protests continue in Israel, with scuffles outside Netanyahu’s residence. The UK recently announced the suspension of some arms export licenses to Israel due to concerns about potential violations of international law. Netanyahu criticized the move as “shameful” and warned it would embolden Hamas. Despite this, the US remains Israel’s biggest arms supplier. More than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza as a result of the conflict with Hamas.
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Netanyahu pushes against pressure for Gaza hostage deal in Israel
