The Times of Israel reports: “Israel on Friday marked 700 days since the Hamas terror group’s October 7, 2023, invasion, massacre, and hostage-taking in southern Israel, with demonstrations across the country demanding a deal to secure the remaining captives’ release.

Forty-seven of the people abducted from Israel in the attack remain in captivity, of whom between 20 and 22 are believed to be alive. Hamas is also holding the body of a soldier killed in 2014.

Freed hostages and the families of those still in captivity led protests on Friday morning, demanding the government return to the negotiating table with Hamas, which has accepted a proposed deal, and not move forward with an expansion of the war, which would likely put the captives at even greater risk.

‘Government of Israel — drop the excuses! A deal is necessary now, before it’s too late,’ said the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in a statement Thursday ahead of the protests…”