‘Bring everyone back home’: Thousands in Tel Aviv demand release of hostages held by Hamas

Thousands of people have staged a protest in Tel Aviv to demand the Israeli government do more to secure the release of the hostages still being held by Hamas in Gaza. 

The weekly protests also have an anti-government element, with many demanding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu call fresh elections and make way for a successor. 

"I'm not ready to live in a world full of death. I am not ready to live in a country with a government that sends us to settle in the borders and fight in wars and in the end abandons us. I'm not ready to live without a father," said Ofer Kalderon, the son of Rotem Kalderon, one of the hostages captured by Hamas.

Hamas launched an incursion into southern Israel last October, killing around 1,200 people and taking 250 others hostage.

Since Israel launched its military offensive in Gaza, more than 100 hostages have been released during a weeklong ceasefire in November last year.

But efforts to strike a new truce deal which would include an exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners have so far stalled.

One of the stated aims of Israel's military campaign was to free the hostages held in Gaza but in eight months, only seven have been freed.

Three others were mistakenly killed by Israeli forces after they escaped on their own and Hamas says others have been killed in Israeli airstrikes. Israel estimates around 80 are still being held by Hamas along with the bodies of 40 others.

"Say yes to the deal, bring everyone back home; the living for rehabilitation and their families and the dead for a dignified burial in their country," said Michal Lubnov, the wife of hostage Alex Lubnov.

The Israeli offensive into Gaza has killed over 37,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, who do not