Israeli protesters share anger over government’s failure to agree hostage deal

(2 Sep 2024) RESTRICTION SUMMARY: ASSOCIATED PRESS Tel Aviv, Israel - 2 September 2024 1. Protesters with banners and placards chanting, two lying on ground with hands and feet tied and covered with red paint 2. Pan of protesters lying on ground with hands and feet tied and covered with red paint 3. Various of protesters chanting 4. SOUNDBITE (English) Maya Or, protester: AUDIO AS INCOMING “They (the government) prefer to deal with Hamas, give them money, build their tunnels and not release Israeli citizens that pay their taxes here, that serve in the army, that are working in the fields, that are doing everything that they can to build up this country. But they just don’t give a damn about them. So I think if somebody needs to do it, it’s us, the people, we don’t have any choice. We have to do what the government is not able to do. They don’t want to, they prefer their seats in the Knesset. They prefer the religious partners in the government and they don’t care about people that really live here and care about this country.“ 5. Various of protesters seated on road, UPSOUND chanting (Hebrew) “Deal now“ 6. SOUNDBITE (English) Orit Bartov, protester: AUDIO AS INCOMING “Ultimately we are here because six people that were alive and survived the agony of staying in Hamas captivity have lost their lives because the government can’t make up her (its) mind. And it seems like they forgot the Israeli ethos which is mutual dependence on each other, mutual reliance on each other and it seems like there’s no one there that listens to us. But the families of the hostages need our support, they need to know that they are not alone.“ 7. Various of protesters chanting, some holding signs and Israeli flags STORYLINE: Thousands of Israelis poured into the streets of Tel Aviv for a second day on a row on Monday, in grief and anger after six more hostages were found dead in Gaza. Their deaths fuelled fury and frustration among Israelis, who have held massive protests in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv since the news broke. And a rare general strike on Monday to protest the failure to return hostages held in Gaza led to disruptions around the country. The families and much of the public blame Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying the hostages could have been returned alive in a deal with Hamas. “We have to do what the government is not able to do. They don’t want to, they prefer their seats in the Knesset. They prefer the religious partners in the government and they don’t care about people that really live here and care about this country,“ protester, Maya Or, said. “The families of the hostages need our support, they need to know that they are not alone,“ another protester said. Netanyahu has pledged “total victory” over Hamas and blames it for the failure of the negotiations, which have dragged on for much of this year. Hamas accuses him of dragging out talks by issuing new demands, including for lasting Israeli control over two strategic corridors in Gaza. Israel said the six hostages found dead in Gaza were killed by Hamas shortly before Israeli forces arrived in the tunnel where they were held. The Israeli Health Ministry said autopsies determined the hostages were shot at close range and died on Thursday or Friday. Three were reportedly among those who would have been released in the first phase of the cease-fire proposal outlined by Biden in July. Hamas has demanded an end to the war, the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and the release of a large number of Palestinian prisoners, including high-profile militants. AP video by Paz Bara Find out more about AP Archive: Twitter: Facebook: ​​ Instagram: You can license this story through AP Archive: