Israel cautiously optimistic about ceasefire negotiations, as thousands demand Netanyahu accept a deal

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Israeli negotiators have expressed cautious optimism about accepting a ceasefire deal to halt the war in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing pressure from his own people to do so with major street protests urging him to act.

Transcript

00:00On a steamy night here in Tel Aviv, thousands of Israelis are turning up the heat on Benjamin

00:07Netanyahu's government, demanding that he accept a ceasefire deal, ending hostilities

00:12in Gaza and prompting the return of more than 100 hostages still held there after 316 days.

00:21Among them, Amnon Shakar, whose granddaughter is still being held by Hamas.

00:25He says he believes she's still alive and hopes that she'll return soon.

00:30We heard mainly from those hostages that did come back, like 50 days after they were kidnapped.

00:38She was well, a little bit wounded, but basically she was okay, on her feet, talking to everybody.

00:48And then we had some, what the military calls, sign of life.

00:54You know what it means, exactly like I know what it means.

00:57Sign of life.

00:58That's it.

00:59No interpretation, no explanation.

01:02But I believe the military when they say that, so we know she was alive a few months back.

01:09The problem is, when you're there with the Hamas, you can tell exactly how she is at

01:1411 o'clock.

01:15That doesn't mean anything about 11.05.

01:19He's not convinced that Benjamin Netanyahu is doing the right thing and holding out.

01:24But there are other items on the priority list that are being considered, other than

01:29the one item which should be the only one on the priority list, which is bring the hostages

01:36back.

01:37This very fact is catastrophic for the state of Israel.

01:42Because in the years to come, the citizens of Israel will ask themselves only one thing.

01:48They don't even know it yet, but they'll ask themselves one thing.

01:52Should my government do everything in her power, anything, to bring the hostages back?

02:00Here in what's dubbed Hostages Square in the heart of Tel Aviv, there is a clear message

02:05to the government.

02:06Get a deal and get it now.

02:08Tonight, the Prime Minister's office may well have given Israelis some hope, a statement

02:13released in the last couple of hours expressing cautious optimism about being able to reach

02:19a deal.

02:20Of course, while these negotiations are put on hold and that work is happening behind

02:24the scenes, the bombardment of Gaza continues.

02:27At least 10 more Palestinians killed in strikes today.

02:31It goes to show that the suffering that hostages and their families are experiencing here in

02:36Israel and that of the population in Gaza continues, and all of them will be hoping

02:41a deal can be reached very soon.

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