Thousands of Israelis calling for greater efforts to free hostages held in Gaza as well as the exit of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu marched in Jerusalem yesterday , in the second consecutive evening of mass protests.
Protesters blocked the city's main highway after gathering in front of the Israeli parliament , lighting fires and waving Israeli flags.
At least 100 thousand people took to the streets , with the police using water cannons against them, pushing and pushing back the demonstrators while chanting slogans, including Netanyahu "must leave". Protesters said the protest in Jerusalem, which took place while the prime minister announced that he had undergone successful hernia surgery and was recovering and recovering, was the largest since the outbreak of war in Gaza. in October.
Meanwhile , the withdrawal of Israeli army tanks and other vehicles from al-Shifa hospital began , with the Hamas-run Gaza Strip's Ministry of Health saying it had discovered dozens of bodies .
“Dozens of bodies of martyrs, some in a state of decomposition, were found in the complex and around the hospital,” says the ministry in a press release, specifying that there is “very significant” material damage to all the buildings.
In the last few hours, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have also provided an official toll of the number of soldiers who have died since the beginning of the conflict: there were 600 as of 7 October in the Strip, in Israel and in the Palestinian Territories .
The US-Israel virtual summit is scheduled today to discuss the Biden administration's alternative proposals to the military invasion of Rafah . White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan is expected to lead the American side in the meeting, which will be attended by representatives of the Pentagon, the State Department and US intelligence agencies. Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer and National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi will lead the talks on the Israeli side, with the participation of senior defense and intelligence officials.
