Protesters block roads across Israel as they urge Benjamin Netanyahu to quit and call for hostages deal

Demonstrators march with Israeli flags during a protest marking nine months since the start of the war and calling for the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip by the Hamas militant group, in Tel Aviv, Israel (Leo Correa/AP)

Melanie Lidman and Samy Magdy

Israeli protesters blocked roads across the country, calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to step down and pushing for a ceasefire that could bring back the hostages held by Hamas.

The demonstrations on Sunday, marking nine months since the war in Gaza started, come as international mediators have renewed efforts to broker a deal.