Thousands of settlers demonstrated in anger in the streets of Tel Aviv, from the families of detainees in Gaza, to demand an immediate exchange deal.

The demonstrators also blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to conclude an exchange deal for the return of detainees and the release of Palestinian prisoners.

Netanyahu added, "We are in the midst of the war in Gaza, which is still continuing in full force."

Netanyahu acknowledged that Tel Aviv is going through difficult times, while efforts continue to return detainees in the Gaza Strip, as he put it.

This comes as the Israeli occupation army announced the start of a surprise military operation in the center of the Gaza Strip on the second day of Eid al-Fitr.