Protests intensified in Tel Aviv on Tuesday morning as hundreds of demonstrators took to the streets accusing Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of waging a “war without goals” on Gaza and stalling on the prisoner exchange deal. According to reports citing Hebrew media, protesters blocked several streets in Tel Aviv demanding an end to the war on Gaza and the return of prisoners. Others gathered outside the homes of several Israeli ministers calling for the release of their detained relatives in Gaza.

The Israeli Prisoners’ Families Committee stated that Prime Minister Netanyahu decided to sacrifice the prisoners to stay in power and that his government is waging a war without clear objectives in Gaza. They added that the decision to pursue a military operation will lead to the death of their children, which worries them and pushes them to pressure for a comprehensive agreement.

Hagit Chen, mother of captive soldier Itay Chen, said, “What we are witnessing now is a trap being set for the people, and we are capable of bringing our children back home.”

Einav Tsengawker, mother of a prisoner in Gaza, accused Netanyahu of placing obstacles in the way of the deal, urging Israelis to protest. She said, “Netanyahu, why are you hesitating? If ending the war is your priority, you must set practical principles to achieve that, not continue to sabotage deals.”

Yehuda Kohi, father of a prisoner in Gaza, said, “The people of Israel are with us, and we will prove again that we all want to end the war.”

Hebrew Broadcasting Corporation reported that the protest organizers plan to raise huge flags in front of the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv at 6:30 pm, as a symbolic step to draw the attention of the American administration.

Prisoners’ families called earlier this week to escalate protests and actions to pressure Netanyahu’s government to conclude a deal ensuring prisoner exchange and ending the 22-month-long war.

About a week ago, more than a million settlers took to the streets protesting the ongoing war in Gaza, demanding a prisoner exchange deal. In what was described as the largest protests since October 7, 2023, demonstrators held signs reading “We will not let the government sacrifice the prisoners.”

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu considered the protesters demanding a halt to the war in Gaza as serving Hamas’s interests.