'These are human beings,' parents of Israeli hostage say

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Thousands in Israel call for release of Hamas hostages

STORY: :: June 22, 2024:: Tel Aviv, Israel:: Tens of thousands gather in Tel Aviv, calling for the release of Hamas-held hostages :: "I'm here to demonstrate and ask my government and all the governments in the whole world, please, please do sign the deal. Sign, Netanyahu deal. Just do it bring them back home to the children, to the parents, to their families. We are all broken and tired and we want to make end to this tragedy.":: "We are here to mark 260 days that our loved ones are being held captive in Gaza under hell conditions. We are here to demand that the organization Hamas to bring back our hostages. It all started with the hostages and it will all end with the hostages back home."Such protests have become weekly events, underscoring the divisions in Israeli society, which have reopened following a period of unity at the start of the war.The mother of two released hostages, Hadas Kalderon, urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to "sign a deal" for a ceasefire and put an end to the crisis.Another protester, Ilay David, said the protest marked 260 days since hostages were taken to Gaza to be held captive "under hell conditions".Israel's ground and air campaign in Gaza was triggered when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.The offensive has left Gaza in ruins, killed more than 37,400 people, of whom 101 were killed in the past 24 hours, according to Palestinian health authorities, and left nearly the entire population homeless and destitute