During one of the actions, protesters tried to light fires and block road traffic. Police had to intervene and used force to disperse the demonstrators. Those gathered in Israeli squares accuse the country’s authorities of being unable to break the current stalemate between Israelis and Palestinians and call for early elections and the appointment of a new government. They also demand that Netanyahu reach an agreement with Hamas as soon as possible to release the hostages. However, the negotiation process is virtually blocked. According to representatives of the Palestinian movement, Washington is exerting unprecedented pressure on Hamas to get the Palestinians to accept Israel’s conditions “without any amendments.” At the same time, the movement is ready to accept any initiative “that guarantees a permanent ceasefire, the complete withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip and a real agreement on the exchange of hostages.” Tel Aviv continues to insist that it will not stop the military operation until Hamas is eliminated.
More countries ask their citizens to leave Lebanon
The situation around Lebanon continues to heat up. Acting Prime Minister Najib Mikati said Israel is already actively waging “rampant psychological warfare and intimidating threats of aggression.” Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz vowed to “counterattack Hezbollah until it leaves southern Lebanon.” In the midst of the expected military operation in Tel Aviv, more and more countries are asking their citizens to leave Lebanese territory. Saudi Arabia banned visiting Lebanon and similar recommendations were made by US authorities, the foreign ministries of EU countries, Switzerland, Canada, Qatar and Russia. According to Iran, an Israeli attack on Lebanon will lead to a “war of annihilation.” However, the Israeli Defense Ministry calls Iran’s threats “exaggeration.”
