Hundreds, Including Hostage Families, Block Jerusalem Entrance in Protest of Reported Deal

Photo Credit: Chaim Goldberg/Flash90

Israelis protest in Jerusalem against the reported terms of the hostage deal being discussed with Hamas in Gaza, Jan. 13, 2025.

Hundreds of Israelis, including family members of captives held by Hamas and of slain soldiers, blocked the main entrance to Jerusalem on Monday evening, protesting against the emerging terms of the hostages-for-ceasefire-and-terrorists-release deal with the Islamist organization.

Protesters, led by the Tikva Forum for Families of Hostages and the Heroism Forum, which represents families of soldiers and security personnel who died in the Swords of Iron war, gathered near where Route 1 from Tel Aviv enters the capital, under the slogans, “We don’t want a deal; we want to subdue [Hamas]” and “You have no mandate to surrender.”

ברקע המשא ומתן המתקדם בדוחא ולקראת עסקת חטופים בשלבים: מאות מפגינים נענים לקריאת פורום תקווה וגבורה וצעדו מאוהל הגבורה לכניסה לעיר ירושלים בקריאה לממשלת ישראל ״אין לכם מנדט להיכנע לחמאס״ בנוסף קריאות גוברות של הסיסמא ״היום משלמים מחר חותמים״ pic.twitter.com/CVcXgjzDmr

— Yanal Jabarin ينال جبارين | ינאל ג׳בארין (@JbareenYanal) January 13, 2025

Ditza Or, whose son Avinatan, 31, was kidnapped by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023, along with his girlfriend, Noa Argamani, 27, who was freed in a rescue raid in June, slammed the reported terms of the deal as “shameful” in a statement cited by Ynet on Monday evening.

Or noted that “most of the hostages—including my son—will be left behind,” adding, “This is a deal that is selective.”

Ruby and Hagit Chen, parents of American-Israeli dual citizen Sgt. Itay Chen, 19, who was killed during the Oct. 7 attacks, called on the Israeli government to present the full outline under discussion to the families.

“Everyone should return home, without exception and without selection,” Ynet quoted the Chens as saying.

Political sources said on Monday night that the deal being discussed would recover 33 hostages in the first phase of the truce, the majority of whom are believed to be alive.

The first phase consists of a 42-day ceasefire, the sources said. On the 16th day, talks regarding the second phase of the deal will begin.

The sources cited by Ynet expressed optimism regarding the talks and said that the negotiations with Hamas were in a “very advanced stage.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a security consultation with the heads of the security establishment on Monday night. Among the topics reportedly discussed was when to bring the deal with Hamas for approval by government ministers.

A PLO official who reportedly traveled to Doha to prepare the lists of terrorists to be released as part of an Israel-Hamas truce deal has claimed that Jerusalem has agreed to free thousands of terrorists.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich earlier on Monday said the ceasefire agreement with Hamas would be a “catastrophe” for Israel’s security, stressing that his Religious Zionism Party would not vote to approve it.

“We will not be part of a surrender deal that includes the release of arch-terrorists, halting the war, undermining the achievements that were secured with many lives lost and abandoning numerous hostages,” Smotrich said.