Relatives of Israeli captives say will act for Netanyahu's 'immediate replacement'

A group of around 20 relatives of Israeli captives held in the Gaza Strip on Saturday called for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's resignation, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported.

The families urged Israeli lawmakers and cabinet members Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot to support their efforts to replace Netanyahu "immediately".

"After you [Netanyahu] have abandoned our families on October 7 and after 176 days during which you haven't struck a deal and are constantly busy foiling a deal, we realised you are the obstacle," Einav Zangauker, the father of one of the captives still held in Gaza, was quoted as saying by Haaretz.

"You are the obstacle preventing a deal knowingly and on purpose. We are forced to do all in our power to remove the obstacle that is you, and are forced to start a new phase in our fight. From now on we will act for your immediate replacement," he said in a speech outside of Tel Aviv's military headquarters.