According to Dpa, relatives of Israeli hostages held by Hamas staged a protest near the homes of six members of the Israeli government — including Defense Minister Israel Katz and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar.
The demonstrators demanded that the ministers implement a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and reach an agreement with Hamas militants to release the hostages. “We will not forgive further delays,” their statement said. “Listen to the people: stop this war and bring everyone home.”
On August 18, AFP, citing Hamas sources, reported that the movement had accepted a new ceasefire proposal in Gaza without any amendments. One of the sources emphasized that it envisioned a 60-day truce and the release of hostages in two stages.
At the same time, reports indicate that out of 50 Israeli hostages, only about 20 may still be alive. The Israeli leadership has not yet officially confirmed its agreement to the ceasefire proposal.
Thus, pressure on the government within Israeli society is growing. Experts and observers note that the key question now is how quickly a political decision will be made and how the fate of the hostages will be resolved.
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