Relatives of Israelis abducted by the Palestinian extremist militia Hamas in 2023 staged protests on Monday to mark 500 days of their captivity.

The day’s events began with the blockade of central streets in a number of towns and cities, including in the coastal metropolis of Tel Aviv.

A march to the parliament in Jerusalem, the Knesset, was also on the programme.

A total of 73 hostages are still being held in the Gaza Strip, 36 of whom are thought to no longer be alive.

The forum of relatives of the kidnapped persons had called for rallies and a day of fasting to mark the 500 days under the slogan “Get them out of hell.”

The Gaza war began after Hamas and allied groups killed around 1,200 people in southern Israel and abducted more than 250 people to the coastal strip on October 7, 2023.

According to Palestinian figures, more than 48,200 Palestinians died in the following 15 months of fighting between Hamas and Israel in the territory.

Under the current ceasefire, which took effect on January 19, 33 Israeli hostages are set to be released from Gaza in exchange for 1,904 Palestinian prisoners during an initial six-week phase.

So far, Hamas has released 19 hostages, in addition to five Thai nationals abducted from Israel who were not part of the agreement.

Another 14 hostages, including eight said to be dead, are set to be released over the next two weeks.

(dpa/NAN)