Protests against Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government continue in Israel. Thousands of Israelis and relatives of captives demonstrated in Tel Aviv calling for a ceasefire with Hamas and for the continuation of a prisoner exchange agreement. Yotam Cohen, brother of Israeli captive soldier Nimrod Cohen, expressed his shame at being Israeli, stating that leaders of different countries are not interested in rescuing Israel’s captives.

Relatives of Israeli captives in Gaza and thousands of others gathered in Tel Aviv’s Kirya military base and in a square named “Square of Hostages” to pressure the government to continue the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement. Yotam Cohen, brother of Nimrod, addressed around 2,000 people at Kirya, highlighting that foreign leaders are not concerned about rescuing Israel’s captives, referencing the U.S. directly negotiating with Hamas. Cohen accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer of finding the agreement unnecessary because they believed most captives were dead, betraying the captives and violating the ceasefire and exchange agreement.

Cohen reminded that Israel did not comply with the condition of entering into second-stage negotiations on the 16th day of the first stage of the agreement and did not withdraw from the Philadelphi Corridor. He noted that 1 in 6 captives died due to Israeli attacks.

Yifat Calderon, cousin of Ofer Calderon among the Israeli captives released by Hamas, called to continue the protest at Kirya through the night. It was reported that Israeli police intervened in the square and prevented those who wanted to join the demonstration at Kirya from leaving, leading to scuffles.

According to Israel Hayom, relatives of Israeli captives criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government severely for allegedly deliberately sabotaging the ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement in Gaza, planning to resume attacks on Gaza. Einav Zangauker, mother of Matan among the Gaza captives, pointed out that the government had no intention of bringing back all captives, saying they initially asked her to remain silent and sit at home, assuring her they were doing everything to bring them back.

Karina Ariev, one of the Israeli captives released by Hamas, demanded the government to continue the agreement. The ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel came into effect on Sunday, January 19 at 12:15 GMT. The agreement, expected to consist of three stages, required negotiations for the second stage to start on the 16th day of the 42-day first stage (February 3).

While the Tel Aviv administration prevented the start of second-stage negotiations, following the completion of the first stage last week, U.S. President Donald Trump’s Special Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff proposed a plan to extend the first stage of the ceasefire. Israel claimed to have accepted the plan, but Hamas rejected it, announcing a halt to all kinds of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli media reported that Tel Aviv was preparing to resume attacks on the Gaza Strip.