Israelis rally to demand Gaza ceasefire and PM Netanyahu's resignation

Israelis protested on Saturday night, calling for a ceasefire and the resignation of hardline Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

Tens of thousands took to the streets in Tel Aviv to demand that the government reach a deal with Hamas to secure the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza. 

They also called for new elections, accusing Netanyahu of prolonging the conflict to keep himself in power. 

Netanyahu's government - seen as the most right-wight in Israel's history - insists it will not stop the war until the Palestinian militant group has been "annihilated". 

"We hope the world hears us and knows that the people of Israel are not the government of Israel," said one protester Shulamit Ron. "We don't agree with the policy, we don't agree with the way they behave, and we want to have a different future."

The protest comes as a Hamas delegation met mediators in Egypt on Saturday. 

Egyptian state media reported “noticeable progress" on talks, although an Israeli official downplayed the prospects for a full end to the war in Gaza.

The main source of contention appears to be whether the ceasefire would be permanent or temporary. 

Hamas has repeatedly insisted that any deal freeing the hostages must include a withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and an end to the fighting. 

Pressure has mounted on Netanyahu's war cabinet to reach a deal halting the nearly seven-month-long war.

"The most important thing is to bring the hostages back and to get humanitarian aid into Gaza," said Roi Tzohar, demonstrating in Tel Aviv.

"The Israeli people are hostages to the right-wing government and the people of Gaza are hostages of Hamas."

Egyptian and US mediators have reported signs of compromise in recent days. But chances for a ceasefire deal remain