JERUSALEM/ISTANBUL

Israeli protesters marched Saturday toward the home of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in occupied Jerusalem to demand a prisoner swap deal with Hamas, while thousands gathered at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv.

The demonstrations came hours after the families of Israeli captives in the Gaza Strip sent a message to Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, warning that the plan to occupy Gaza City “will not bring back the hostages but will kill them.”

Channel 12 reported that a march headed to Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem after the families of hostages held by Hamas gathered on one of the city’s bridges.

It said that the families and other demonstrators assembled at the Chords Bridge before setting off on a long march toward Netanyahu’s home to demand a prisoner exchange deal.

“Netanyahu must end this nightmare and bring all the hostages back home,” Vicky Cohen, the mother of captive Nimrod Cohen, was quoted.

Protesters carried signs demanding a deal, including “Enough,” highlighting demands to stop the war in Gaza and the return of the captives.

The Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, meanwhile, reported that thousands rallied at Prisoners’ Square in Tel Aviv.

It said around 1,000 Israelis also demonstrated at the Karkur Junction in Haifa, demanding a prisoner exchange deal.

Around 250 hostages were taken to Gaza following a cross-border attack by Hamas on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Tel Aviv estimates that nearly 50 Israeli hostages are being held in Gaza, including 20 who are alive.

The Israeli genocidal war in Gaza entered day 700 on Friday, with Israel having killed at least 64,300 Palestinians. The military campaign has devastated the enclave, which is facing famine.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.