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With fire in Tel Aviv: People protest for the release of the hostages and against the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
Photo: Amir Levy / Getty Images
Thousands of people demonstrated in Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities on Saturday for the release of hostages held by the Islamist Hamas and against the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Relatives of the hostages held in the Gaza Strip called for a new hostage deal and called on the government to act quickly.
Several demonstrations spread across Tel Aviv and blocked the coastal metropolis's central traffic arteries.
At some rallies there were chaotic scenes between police and demonstrators.
In some places, people set small fires, set off smoke bombs and chanted for the hostages to be released.
The police also use water cannons to break up individual gatherings.
The important Ajalon city highway was also blocked at times.
"You don't have any more time"
Relatives of the hostages kidnapped in the Gaza Strip accuse Netanyahu and his government of not doing enough to secure their release.
"Our prime minister has forgotten that he is also the prime minister of 134 hostages," said a relative at a rally.
»You're out of time, we're out of time.
Do something now, we need you!”
Elsewhere, several thousand people demonstrated against the Netanyahu government and called for early elections.
On a large screen, they played a video excerpt from the speech of US Senator Chuck Schumer, who said he believed early elections were in Israel's interest.
A group of war veterans set up a dummy tank in front of the military headquarters in Tel Aviv.
Hundreds of people also gathered in front of President Isaac Herzog's residence in Jerusalem.
Dozens of demonstrators blocked streets there and, according to media reports, were dragged off the street by police.
jpa/dpa