Israeli protesters interrupt Netanyahu’s speech amid ceasefire talks in Doha

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced disruption during a memorial event for victims of the October 7 attacks, coinciding with the resumption of Gaza ceasefire discussions in Doha, Qatar. As Netanyahu began his speech at the ceremony, protesters in the audience shouted criticisms, including “Shame on you,” leading to a halt in his remarks shortly after they commenced. One protester voiced personal grief, stating that their father had been killed in the attacks.

Originally, the memorial was designed to limit speeches from bereaved families to avoid governmental criticism. However, amid the protests, family members were eventually permitted to speak. The attacks, led by Hamas last year, resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1,139 people in Israel, with over 200 individuals taken captive, of whom nearly 100 are still unaccounted for in Gaza.

Amid growing public and diplomatic pressure on Netanyahu's administration, discussions are intensifying regarding the fate of the remaining captives. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi proposed a temporary two-day ceasefire to facilitate the exchange of four Israeli captives for several Palestinian prisoners. This announcement coincided with high-level negotiations in Doha involving key intelligence officials from the US and Israel.

El-Sisi indicated that these discussions would ideally lead to a more permanent ceasefire, suggesting that follow-up talks should commence within ten days of the initial ceasefire. Families of the captives, alongside various Western leaders, are advocating for a comprehensive agreement following the recent killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, which has altered the dynamics of the ongoing conflict.

Critics within Israel have accused Netanyahu of impeding efforts to secure a truce and to negotiate a release for the remaining captives. The Israeli military has reported that out of the 97 hostages, 34 have been confirmed dead. Netanyahu has previously dismissed ceasefire proposals, including one from the US, and has reportedly authorised attacks on Hamas leaders engaged in negotiations.

The Israeli far-right government continues to advocate for military solutions, recently extending military operations to southern Lebanon against Hezbollah. In a separate address, Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant acknowledged that achieving the country’s objectives cannot rely solely on military action and that difficult concessions may be necessary to fulfil the obligation of returning hostages.