Protesters in Israel release balloons to mark 9 months of war, call for release of hostages

(7 Jul 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Or Haner, Israel - 7 July 2024
1. Wide pan right of protesters releasing black and white balloons marking 9 months of war, chants (Hebrew) “all of them - now”
2. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Omri Shifroni, protester:
“I believe that we have the power, for those who were abandoned and are abandoned, got the power to fix, certainly not to those who abandoned. Those who abandoned need to end their role, this way or another, and clear the way to others.”
3. Various of protesters with black and white balloons and signs with names of communities near the Gaza border
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Yaron Levoren, protester:
“Unfortunately, our prime minister (Benjamin Netanyahu) is very weak, and cares only about himself and staying out of jail and that’s why his government, supposedly, but nothing for the country, and obviously nothing for the hostages, and he has a deal right now and he’s giving the right wingers, a very minority part of his government, to control him.”
5. Various of protesters tying balloons to signs
6. Close of black and yellow balloons
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Shirel Hogeg, protester:
“For all of us it’s a very hard day. Every black balloon is a name of somebody that died, and a yellow ballon is somebody that is not back yet from his kidnapped.”
8. Wide pan right of protesters gathering
9. Tilt up from signs with names of communities near the Gaza border to black and white balloons
10. SOUNDBITE (English) Hannah Golan, protester from Kibbutz Or Haner:
“We are here, first of all to remember those who were less lucky than me, and the devastating abandonment of our communities by our government. And it’s nine months today, to this black day, and still nobody in our government takes responsibility.”
11. Man with Israeli flag on hay bale
12. Black and white balloons in sky
STORYLINE:
Protesters released balloons in southern Israel Sunday marking nine months since the country's war with Hamas began, calling for elections and the release of hostages held in Gaza.
Some 1500 back and yellow balloons were released, with the black representing people who were killed since Oct. 7, and the yellow for hostages still held in Gaza.
Israel launched the war in Gaza after Hamas’ October attack in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killed some 1,200 people - mostly civilians - and abducted about 250.
Israel says Hamas is still holding about 120 hostages - about a third of them now thought to be dead.
Hamas has given its initial approval of a U.S.-backed proposal for a phased cease-fire deal in Gaza, dropping a key demand that Israel commit up front to a complete end to the war, a Hamas official and an Egyptian official said Saturday.
The apparent compromise by the militant group, which controlled Gaza before triggering the war with an Oct. 7 attack on Israel, could deliver the first pause in fighting since November and set the stage for further talks on ending a devastating nine months of fighting.
But all sides cautioned that a deal is still not guaranteed.
Over that period, Hamas, Israel and mediators would negotiate the terms of the second phase that could see the release of the remaining male hostages, both civilians and soldiers, the first two officials said.
In return, Israel would free additional Palestinian prisoners and detainees.
The third phase would include the return of any remaining hostages, including bodies of the dead, and the start of a years-long reconstruction project.
Hamas has expressed concern that Israel will restart the war after the hostages are released.
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