Thousands of people, mostly women dressed in white, according to a Jerusalem Post report, yesterday blocked a road leading to the Knesset — the Israeli parliament — as part of a new mobilization with a central demand for the release of hostages held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip for 421st day.

Of the 251 people kidnapped during the Hamas raid in southern Israel on October 7, 2023, 97 remain hostages in the Gaza Strip, but 34 of them have been declared dead by the Israeli army.

Hostage protests are held weekly in Israel, but usually take place on Saturday evenings.

In yesterday’s mobilization, he invited an organization that calls itself Shift 101 (“Shift 101”) and organizes “non-violent” sit-ins on roads leading to the Israeli Parliament.

“We, the mothers and relatives of the hostages (…) call on all mothers and fathers, women and men across the country to unite (…) for the most important thing for all of us — the return of the hostages. We hope,” according to a statement from the organization, excerpts of which were published by the same Israeli newspaper earlier this week.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu relies on far-right and ultra-conservative religious parties for his political survival, factions that reject any deal with Hamas.

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