Ambassadors to Israel join rally to demand Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal

Several ambassadors to Israel have joined the weekly rally in Tel Aviv of family members and supporters demanding the government reach a deal to return the remaining hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

The protest comes on the same day that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was sending the director of the Mossad foreign intelligence agency to talks in Doha, in a sign of progress towards ending 15 months of war.

"We are in a phase of intensive negotiations, which is good. I believe that these efforts should not be interrupted or stopped," said Germany’s ambassador to Israel, Steffen Seibert.

"We know that the only way to bring all the hostages home is through negotiations. Therefore, I call on those involved in the negotiations now to do the extra leg that is required to reach a deal," said Simon Walters, the UK’s ambassador.

The weekly rallies in Tel Aviv have taken place for months on what has come to be known as 'Hostages Square'.

They have also taken on a political dimension with many protesters demanding Netanyahu call fresh elections and step down.

They accuse him of prioritising his political survival over the lives of the around 100 hostages believed to be in Gaza.

"Six soldiers were killed in Gaza this week alone. Nearly every day more names of fallen victims are released. How much more blood will be spilled for Netanyahu's personal interests?" said one of the protesters, Efrat Machikawa.

"It's time, the people of Israel want this government to go. We want the war to end, and we need the hostages home," said Idit Peterson.

Despite Netanyahu's announcement that Mossad's foreign intelligence chief will attend the talks, it is not immediately clear when David Barnea will travel to Qatar for the latest round of indirect