Thousands of Israelis demonstrated yesterday Saturday in Tel Aviv to demand that the government of Benjamin Netanyahu conclude an agreement for the release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip, according to the plan presented yesterday by US President Joe Biden.

“Deal for the hostages now,” demanded a protester disguised as the Statue of Liberty amid a sea of ​​Israeli flags.

“Biden is our only hope,” another protester, Abigail Chur, 34, told AFP.

On Friday, the US president said the Israeli government has proposed a new road map towards a full ceasefire between Israel’s armed forces and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas that includes the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip.

In Tel Aviv, protesters held a large banner reading “Biden, save them from Netanyahu.”

Most of those gathered who spoke to AFP made no secret of their fear that Prime Minister Netanyahu would jeopardize the deal.

For Diti Capuano, the Israeli prime minister is more interested in his “power” than the fate of the hostages.

“I hope that Mr. Biden will apply enough pressure so that the administration and Mr. Netanyahu will accept the agreement,” the 46-year-old continued with an Israeli flag draped over her shoulders.

In a statement, the Forum of Families of Hostages and the Disappeared said it would demand that “the Israeli government immediately approves the hostage release agreement and brings home all the hostages.”

“We will also ask that all government ministers and coalition members publicly pledge to support the agreement and not allow (…) it to be torpedoed and endanger the hostages,” the collective added.

Far-right Israeli ministers have demanded they resign, topple the government if Mr Netanyahu goes ahead with a cease-fire deal in the Gaza Strip.

“We have to come to an agreement,” countered Glick Gilad, 51, holding a huge American flag. “We are strong enough to deal with the war afterwards. First of all, let’s bring them back home,” he added.

“I hope because I trust my people, not because I trust my government,” summed up Dorit Laor, a 60-year-old protester.