Israeli Channel 12 reported that a number of demonstrators in Jerusalem - demanding the conclusion of a prisoner exchange deal held by the Palestinian resistance, and the overthrow of Benjamin Netanyahu's government - were arrested by the police.

Thousands of Israelis demonstrated in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv - yesterday evening, Saturday - to demand a deal that would allow the return of about 120 Israeli prisoners held by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).

The demonstrators accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of undermining efforts to reach an agreement through indirect negotiations with Hamas, and wrote on a huge banner carried by demonstrators in Tel Aviv, “Netanyahu kills hostages.”

According to media reports, thousands demonstrated in Jerusalem in front of Netanyahu’s residence and in front of one of Netanyahu’s villas in the coastal resort of Caesarea. Smaller marches were held in Haifa, Beersheba and Herzliya.

Several hundred relatives and supporters of the prisoners have walked from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem over the past four days.

Negotiations to release the prisoners have faltered for months at a time when the mediators (Egypt, Qatar and the United States) are seeking to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and exchange the remaining Israeli prisoners held by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners detained in Israeli prisons.