Protesters seeking hostages' release smear paint in Israeli parliament

Of 253 people seized by Hamas during its cross-border rampage on October 7 that triggered the Gaza war, 134 remain in captivity and incommunicado in the Palestinian enclave.

 A drone view shows Israeli protesters demanding Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ouster, in the wake of the deadly October 7 attack on Israel by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and the ensuing war in Gaza, in front of the Knesset, Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, April 1, 2024. (photo credit: REUTERS/ILAN ROSENBERG)
A drone view shows Israeli protesters demanding Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ouster, in the wake of the deadly October 7 attack on Israel by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and the ensuing war in Gaza, in front of the Knesset, Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, April 1, 2024.
(photo credit: REUTERS/ILAN ROSENBERG)

A group of Israelis demanding their government do more to free hostages held by Hamas in Gaza protested in parliament on Wednesday with some smearing paint on the partition between the visitors' gallery and the plenum.

"Now! Now!" they chanted at lawmakers below, leaving the glass streaked with yellow - the color of their campaign - as ushers bundled them out.

The protest followed three days of anti-government demonstrations in Jerusalem when thousands took to the streets calling for more action to free the hostages and new elections to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Of 253 people seized by Hamas during its cross-border rampage on October 7 that triggered the Gaza war, 134 remain in captivity and incommunicado in the Palestinian enclave.

At least 35 of remaining hostages dead

Israeli officials have declared at last 35 of them dead in absentia, and relatives and friends fear for the fate of the rest as the conflict drags on.

 A drone view shows tents during a demonstration demanding Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's ouster, in the wake of the deadly October 7 attack on Israel by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and the ensuing war in Gaza, in front of the Knesset, Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, April 1, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/ILAN ROSENBERG)
A drone view shows tents during a demonstration demanding Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's ouster, in the wake of the deadly October 7 attack on Israel by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and the ensuing war in Gaza, in front of the Knesset, Israeli parliament in Jerusalem, April 1, 2024. (credit: REUTERS/ILAN ROSENBERG)

Qatar and Egypt have been trying to mediate a Gaza ceasefire that might secure the release of at least some of the hostages. But Hamas has demanded that any deal lead to an end to the war, while Israel insists it would resume the offensive to destroy the Palestinian Islamist group.