Protests in Israel... "Netanyahu Prefers Prisoners' Deaths"

Israeli broadcasting authority reported that protesters closed the main Dizengoff street in Tel Aviv today, demanding a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas. Israeli media noted that demonstrators also blocked a major intersection southeast of Haifa. During a press conference held last Saturday in front of the Defense Ministry in Tel Aviv, families of the prisoners indicated that a prisoner exchange deal cannot be reached without the ousting of Benjamin Netanyahu's government. Channel 13 in Israel quoted the families of the prisoners saying that their sons are dying in captivity because Netanyahu does not want a swap, as he realizes that their return would mean his political downfall. In this context, the father of an Israeli soldier imprisoned in Gaza stated that Netanyahu would prefer the death of all those held by Hamas to remain Prime Minister for as long as possible. Tel Aviv still estimates that there are more than 120 Israeli prisoners in Gaza, while Hamas announced the deaths of over 70 of them due to indiscriminate airstrikes carried out by Israel, which is holding at least 9,500 Palestinians in its prisons.