During a recent spike of public disturbance in Jerusalem, protestors—among them relatives of Gaza detainees—demanded that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu step down.
Former prime minister and current opposition chief Yair Lapid encouraged the Israeli government to pay attention to the continuous demonstrations and the demands for action.
Families of the hostages are here with us now. Their calls for help outside the Kirya (IDF headquarters) went unnoticed. Their requests unseen by the powerful. "It is obvious that the government doesn't care about them," Lapid said during a protest outside the Knesset.
The brother of Itzhak Elgarat, who is a prisoner, Danny Elgarat also demanded that Netanyahu leave.
"Netanyahu, you have to end your corrupt and opaque transactional era," Elgarat said. No more misleading the people. Already 177 days have gone! Netanyahu, you have run your course!
A throng gathered outside the Knesset, showing solidarity with banners and flags.
"Return the captives or challenge the legitimacy of the country," one of the banners said.
An arrest connected to pyrotechnics usage close to the protest scene was announced by the Israel Police.
A different incident saw the family of a female Israeli soldier imprisoned in Gaza voice dissatisfaction during a meeting with Netanyahu.
"After half a year of discussion, we anticipated good developments," said Naama Levy's father on Army Radio. "Rather, the slow speed of the talks leaves us with worries."