Public discontent with Netanyahu’s government has grown after six Israeli hostages were found dead in Gaza
Tens of thousands of protesters flooded Israel’s streets on Sunday, demanding an immediate ceasefire deal from the government after the bodies of six hostages were discovered in Gaza tunnels the previous day.
Israel’s largest union has called a nationwide strike on Monday to end the “the entire Israeli economy”, with human rights organizations calling for a halt to pressuring the government to sign a ceasefire agreement for hostages.
Sunday’s demonstrations are believed to be the largest since Israel launched its war against Hamas in response to the Oct. 7 attack that left about 1,200 Israelis dead and 200 taken hostage. Organizers described the demonstration as a “endless sea of protesters”, estimating a crowd of 300,000 people in Tel Aviv and another 200,000 in other cities across the country.
In Tel Aviv, protesters marched to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) headquarters, carrying six “symbolic coffins” and singing, “We will not abandon them” and “Now! Now!” Many blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to strike a deal to bring the hostages home safely.
As tens of thousands protest in Tel Aviv to demand that Netanyahu allow a prisoner swap/ceasefire, Israeli forces are responding with stun grenades. Israel has been at war with its neighbors since the beginning. Now it looks like it may be at war with itself.photo.twitter.com/55eEI1T40p
— Wyatt Reed (@wyattreed13) September 1, 2024
Frustration intensified when it was alleged that three of the six hostages killed were scheduled to be released during the first phase of a ceasefire proposal discussed in July. A group of protesters erected a fake cemetery and held up placards “named after Benjamin Netanyahu.”
“Nothing is worse than knowing they could have been saved,” one protester told reporters, adding: “Sometimes it takes something so terrible to shake people and make them take to the streets.”
Later that night, the protests turned violent as demonstrators blocked roads and burned tires. Police deployed water cannons and stun grenades to disperse the crowd. One police officer was reportedly injured in the clash, and dozens were arrested.
Israeli authorities are using water cannons in Tel Aviv in an attempt to disperse protesters demanding a hostage deal with Hamas. Arrests are also being made photo.twitter.com/UYi736osD9
— Newspaper Articles Collection (@NewsArticleColl) September 1, 2024
“During the illegal demonstration, Tel Aviv police forces arrested 29 suspects who violated orders, attacked police officers and engaged in brutal vandalism,” the police declared on X (formerly Twitter).
Israeli political commentator Sri Goldberg said Netanyahu should be “worried” about the widespread protests, explaining that the hostage deaths made it clear to many that “The Israeli government’s policy is deeply harmful to Israelis — and perhaps, in the case of the hostages, even lethal.”
Meanwhile, Hamas claimed the hostages were “deliberately” killed by the IDF. In a video addressed to the Israeli army after the recovery of the bodies, the Qassam Brigade reiterated that “They were alive and were supposed to be released in the first phase of the agreement.”