Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that the negotiating delegation in the prisoner exchange talks will return today from Cairo after an intensive round of talks.
He added that the mediators presented a modified proposal, awaiting Hamas’ response, through constructive Egyptian mediation.
Yesterday, Monday, thousands of Israeli demonstrators went to the vicinity of Netanyahu’s house to demand his resignation, and to denounce Netanyahu’s government and the exemptions granted to religiously observant Jews from military service.
Protest groups organized the demonstration in front of the Knesset, calling for new elections to replace the current government. Some of these groups led the massive demonstrations that rocked Israel last year.
Netanyahu’s government faces widespread criticism over its security failure regarding the Hamas attack on southern Israel, in which 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 hostages were kidnapped to Gaza.
In the midst of the growing protests, Netanyahu, following a press conference held at the government headquarters, went to the hospital to undergo surgery to treat a hernia, less than a year after he had a pacemaker installed.
Netanyahu’s office said in a statement, during a routine examination of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a hernia was discovered, adding that he will undergo general anesthesia during the surgery that will be performed on him at a later time.
The statement stated that Justice Minister Yariv Levin will replace Netanyahu during the period in which he will stop working due to the operation.
