Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was heavily criticized during a mass demonstration in Tel Aviv on Saturday night, as thousands of people gathered to show their support for the decision to release Israeli hostages held by Hamas. The crowd was vocal in its criticism of the government’s handling of the situation, calling for new elections and branding Netanyahu as unfit to remain prime minister. Banners reading “Negotiate now, resign later” were seen during the protests.

One father of an Israeli hostage expressed his frustration with the government’s handling of the situation, stating that the government’s personal survival appears to be more important than the survival of the hostages. He called on the government to agree to a ceasefire in exchange for the release of the hostages.

Israel’s Khan news channel reported that Israel would not be sending a negotiating team to Cairo at that time. The report states that the delegation will be sent to Egypt only after Hamas responds to the agreement proposal. The brother of one of the hostages warned that the Israeli offensive in Rafah could have deadly consequences for the prisoners.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid called on the government to take action and send a negotiating team to Cairo. He stressed the importance of reaching an agreement and returning the hostages to their homes. The mass also demanded an immediate ceasefire and an end to all military operations in Gaza Strip immediately.

Netanyahu was branded during