عائلات الرهائن تحاصر منازل وزراء إسرائيليين

The families of Israeli hostages held by Hamas launched a week of escalation, continuing their protests today (Sunday), coinciding with the 688th day of the genocide war on the Gaza Strip. The demonstrators gathered in front of the homes of prominent ministers in Benjamin Netanyahu's government, demanding the conclusion of a "new deal" that guarantees the release of their loved ones.

Israeli media reported that the families of the hostages held demonstrations in front of the homes of several ministers in the security cabinet, demanding a prisoner exchange deal that would lead to the release of the captives.

The families of Israeli prisoners announced today the start of a week of escalating protests, which includes continuous demonstrations leading up to a large solidarity day next Tuesday.

According to Israeli media, the families stated that they are protesting in front of the homes of government ministers in response to what they described as the "ongoing obstruction" of exchange deals with Hamas.

The families emphasized that the goal of their actions is to pressure the government to respond to public demands to end the war and conclude a deal that guarantees the return of the prisoners, warning of a "systematic obstruction" of an exchange deal currently on Netanyahu's table.

Israel witnessed simultaneous demonstrations in front of the homes of the ministers of defense, agriculture, education, strategic affairs, and the Speaker of the Knesset.

The families of the prisoners organized a protest in front of Defense Minister Yoav Gallant's house, where Yehuda Cohen, the father of one of the prisoners in Gaza, accused him of failing to seek the release of his son, calling on him to resign if he cannot bear the responsibility.

Cohen said: "Loyalty to Netanyahu only leads to more deaths among soldiers and prisoners. Say this is enough, end the unnecessary war, and conclude a deal at any cost."

In Ashkelon, Michal Lavi, the sister of the wife of prisoner Omri Miran, protested in front of Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter's house, demanding he come out to see pictures of the Israeli prisoner, saying: "Omri does not seem to be in good condition there. Where is your responsibility towards Israeli civilians?"

The mother of prisoner Itai Chen, who was killed in Gaza, protested in front of Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer's house, accusing him of ignoring family meetings since he took office, while sharply addressing his wife: "Where is your heart? Your husband has refused to meet us for the past eight months since he took office. He refuses to meet the parents of a prisoner, who is a soldier who lost his life on October 7? What kind of country do we live in? Shame!"

Simultaneously with the protests, demonstrators closed a major highway connecting Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to pressure the government to expedite the conclusion of an exchange deal.