A day of protests in Israel, with roads blocked and tires set on fire: "Netanyahu sacrifices hostages to save the government."
More protesters in the square
The demonstrations began at 6:29 a.m., the time Hamas launched its attacks against Israel on October 7, 2023. They will culminate with a large march in Tel Aviv. The Security Cabinet will meet tonight.
Roads blocked, tires set on fire. A large protest is currently underway in Israel : demonstrators are demanding a deal for the release of the hostages . According to reports, around twenty hostages captured during the massacres of October 7, 2023, are still being held in the Gaza Strip . Groups of protesters also gathered in front of the homes of some ministers to demand an agreement that could lead to the release of the hostages and an end to the fighting. According to Al Jazeera , citing medical sources, at least 20 Palestinians were killed in Israeli army (IDF) attacks at dawn today between Gaza City and Khan Younis .
The protests began at 6:29 a.m., the time Hamas launched its attack on Israel, with a demonstration in front of the US Embassy in Tel Aviv. Protesters unfurled a US flag. Roadblocks began at 7:00 a.m.: Demonstrators blocked Tel Aviv's Ayalon Highway, and Route 2, known as the 'Coastal Highway,' was also closed at the Yakum Junction north of Tel Aviv. The Times of Israel reports that police have announced that all roads have been reopened to traffic. Further demonstrations are planned across the country starting at 2:00 p.m. local time.
“We could have ended the war a year ago and brought back all the hostages and soldiers… but Prime Minister Netanyahu has repeatedly chosen to sacrifice citizens for the sake of his government,” accused Einav Zangauker, mother of Matan, a hostage in Gaza, as she opened demonstrations in Tel Aviv for the day of general mobilization. “We have a wonderful people, but no government. Our people are fighting for their brothers and sisters who remain prisoners . We demonstrated this last week, and today we will continue to fight.”
"There is an offer on the table. We demand that our leaders sit at the negotiating table and not leave until an agreement is reached," reads a statement released by the Forum by Hagit Chen, whose son was kidnapped by Hamas militants. The Security Cabinet will meet this evening; the agenda has not been disclosed, but it is possible that it will also address negotiations. In early August, the same Cabinet approved a plan for the military conquest of Gaza City, which sparked renewed protests over fears over conditions and the safety of the hostages.
A few days earlier, Hamas announced it had accepted a new ceasefire proposal presented by mediators Egypt and Qatar. The agreement called for the staggered release of hostages over an initial 60-day period in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Operations launched by Israel have shelved that proposal. Today's day of protests will culminate in the evening with a large march from Tel Aviv 's Savidor train station to Hostages Square, where the final protest will take place.
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