With every new day, internal pressure on the Prime Minister of the occupation, Benjamin Netanyahu, increases after the Al-Aqsa Flood operation carried out by the Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of the Hamas movement, on October 7th.

Netanyahu faces many criticisms, whether for his failure to protect citizens, or his government’s failure in the issue of detainees held by the Qassam Brigades, due to the growing pressure within Israeli society.

Since the first days that followed the “Al-Aqsa Flood,” the families of the detainees took part in demonstrations, demanding that Netanyahu and his government take action to save their relatives.

According to Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, about 230 families have been informed that their relatives are detained in Gaza.

Almost daily, the families of Israeli detainees gather to demand intervention to return them. Clashes even broke out between them and supporters of the Likud Party, who support the government’s moves, in front of Netanyahu’s house.

After more than three weeks and after demands to meet him, a delegation of them met with Netanyahu yesterday, in an attempt to calm their anger, but this was to no avail.

The families of the detainees confirm that the responsibility for the fate of their relatives lies with the government, but Yedioth newspaper indicated in another report that the file of these detainees is not a priority for the government now, and that the first goal of the emergency government headed by Netanyahu is “to destroy Hamas.”

Prisoners versus detainees

Many of them demanded the release of Palestinian prisoners from the occupation prisons in exchange for the return of the detainees. The family of one of the detainees, named Jonathan Samrano, said: “Jonathan and all of them do not deserve to be there today.. Let all the imprisoned prisoners return to Gaza.”

These demands were present during Netanyahu's meeting, as many of them demanded the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the return of their children, but he promised them that all options were on the table to return them.

In Caesarea, demonstrators chanted against Netanyahu, saying: “You are responsible for what happened. Resign and leave. Take responsibility for the people.”

One of the demonstrators said: “It is not possible that with all the failure here, Netanyahu will continue to run the country. He must resign and leave his position quickly. You must leave the position, and look at the parents who are protesting.”

In occupied Jerusalem, dozens gathered and chanted: “We do not want to wait until the end of the fighting because there may be no one to return.” They raised banners that included demands for the release of Palestinian prisoners in exchange for the return of the detainees as quickly as possible.

The bombing continues and detainees are ignored

In the latest statement from Al-Qassam, it announced the killing of 50 detainees as a result of the Israeli bombing of the Gaza Strip, which increased the anxiety of the families of these detainees, who went out to demonstrate, demanding clarifications regarding the government’s pledges not to expose their families to danger.

Ronen Nutra, the father of one of the detainees, said: “We demand that the war government explain how to carry out the ground operation... and not expose the kidnappers to danger.” He pointed out that the violent bombing of the Gaza Strip is also affecting detainees.

The criticism directed at the head of the detainees committee, Gal Hirsch, also continues, and Yedioth quoted a relative of the detainees: “Hirsch came to have the first conversation with us after three weeks... and he did nothing. He gave us updates, and assigned us the tasks of helping with the information mission!” And when we dared to ask what he would do to bring everyone home, he said, “We are all in the same boat!” These are statements that sparked widespread outrage.

This comes as the occupation continues its brutal aggression against Gaza, coinciding with its forces launching a ground operation in the Strip.

The brutal raids launched by occupation fighters continue, targeting the homes of defenseless civilians, in addition to targeting hospitals, mosques and churches, which has led to thousands of martyrs and wounded, while those who have survived the bombing so far are suffering from a catastrophic humanitarian situation, in light of the restrictions on them.

The death toll from the Israeli aggression rose to more than 8,000 martyrs.