人質救出求め各地でデモ、首相辞任要求も イスラエル

【エルサレムＡＦＰ＝時事】イスラエル各地で３月３０日、イスラム組織ハマスに連れ去られた人質の救出を求める抗議デモが行われた。ハマスとの武力衝突をめぐる政府の対応を批判する声も聞かれた。（写真はデモ隊に対して行われる警察の放水。テルアビブでの抗議デモで）
　最大都市テルアビブでは、デモ参加者が火を放ち、大型トラックを使って環状道路を封鎖。警察が放水銃を使って対応する事態となった。
　エルサレムでは、デモ隊が首相府周辺に集まり、ベンヤミン・ネタニヤフ首相の辞任を求めシュプレヒコールを上げた。イスラエルメディアによると同日、この他にも小規模な抗議デモが各地で行われた。
　昨年１０月７日の襲撃で、１９歳の娘リリさんが人質に取られたというテルアビブでのデモ参加者は、「無関心と命のために闘う時がきた」「デモに参加して、『今すぐに連れ戻せ！』と声を上げて」と呼び掛けた。
　「リリたち人質への思い、彼らが直面しているであろう恐怖から目を背けたことはない。１７６日が経過した。言い訳はもうできない」
　国防省前で行われた反政府デモでは、人質が置かれた状況の責任はネタニヤフ首相にあるとし、参加者らが同首相の写真と共に「あなたがボス、あなたの責任」と書かれたプラカードを掲げた。
　昨年１１月に開放された元人質の一人は首相に対し、開放への動きを加速させるよう直訴。エジプトの首都カイロとカタールの首都ドーハで予定されている、人質解放協議の担当者に「手ぶらで戻るな」と命じるよう要求した。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2024/04/01-18:27）

Protesters blocked Tel Aviv's ring road Saturday after two demonstrations in Israel's biggest city called for the release of hostages held in Gaza and criticised the government's handling of the war.
Police used water cannon against protesters who lit fires and used lorries to block both carriageways of the motorway.
In Jerusalem, hundreds picketed the home of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding he resign. Israeli media reported smaller anti-government protests across the country.
Thousands had gathered earlier in Tel Aviv to hear the families of hostages abducted by Hamas militants on October 7 call for a mass rally in front of the country's parliament next week.
Shira Elbag, whose 19-year-old daughter Liri was abducted by Hamas militants during the October 7 attack on Israel, made an emotional plea urging Israelis to pile the pressure on Netanyahu.
The time has come to go out and fight against indifference and for life, a larger than usual weekly demonstration on the square in Tel Aviv renamed by campaigners Hostages Square.
I ask you to come out with us into the streets and let us sound one united and clear voice: 'Bring them home now!'
- Protesters join together -
At the same time anti-government protesters gathered nearby outside the Ministry of Defence, putting the blame for the hostages' fate on Netanyahu, with pictures of his face next to the text: UR the boss, UR to blame.
Police said the demonstration was illegal and called the protesters rioters as they poured onto the ring road, blocking it for more than an hour.
Many of those who took to the streets in support of the hostages' families joined the anti-government protesters, an AFP photographer said.
Hamas militants seized about 250 hostages on October 7, of whom Israel believes 130 remain in Gaza, including 33 who are presumed dead.
Former hostage Raz Ben Ami, who was freed in November after a deal brokered by Qatar and Washington, appealed directly to Netanyahu to speed up talks for the release of the rest.
She told Netanyahu to give negotiators due to meet in Cairo and Doha next week an order: Do not return without a deal.
Elbag, one of the leaders of the Hostage Families Forum, which represents some of the families, added: I haven't closed an eye from the thoughts and fear of what Liri and the other hostages are going through. After 176 days, the excuses are over.