2-9-2024 (JERUSALEM) Anger and frustration boiled over in Israel on Sunday as hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets following the tragic news of six hostages’ deaths in Gaza. The protests, which swept through major cities including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, saw citizens demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government intensify efforts to secure a ceasefire and the release of the remaining captives.
Israeli media estimated that up to 500,000 people participated in the demonstrations, marking one of the largest public outcries since the conflict began. In Jerusalem, protesters blocked streets and gathered outside the Prime Minister’s residence, while aerial footage from Tel Aviv showed the city’s main motorway filled with demonstrators brandishing flags bearing images of the slain hostages.
The protests took a tense turn as police deployed water cannons to disperse crowds blocking roadways, with local media reporting 29 arrests. The scale of public discontent was further underscored by labour leaders’ call for a nationwide general strike on Monday, signalling a growing crisis for Netanyahu’s administration.
The Israeli military’s announcement of recovering six hostages’ bodies from a tunnel in Rafah, southern Gaza, served as the catalyst for the demonstrations. The deceased were identified as Carmel Gat, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Ori Danino. Forensic examinations revealed that they had been “murdered by Hamas terrorists in a number of shots at close range” between 48 to 72 hours prior to discovery, according to an Israeli health ministry spokesperson.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, facing mounting pressure to conclude nearly 11 months of conflict, stated that Israel would not rest until those responsible were apprehended. “Whoever murders hostages – does not want a deal,” he asserted. However, senior Hamas officials countered, laying blame on Israel’s refusal to sign a ceasefire agreement for the hostages’ deaths.
The tragic developments have intensified calls for a resolution to the conflict, which began after Hamas and other militants killed approximately 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages in attacks on Israel on 7 October, according to Israeli figures. Since then, Israel’s offensive has devastated much of Gaza, with the Palestinian health ministry reporting at least 40,738 casualties.
In response to the growing public outcry, Arnon Bar-David, head of Israel’s trades union federation, announced plans for a general strike on Monday, including the closure of Ben Gurion airport from 8 am local time. This move aims to pressure the government into reaching a deal for the hostages’ release.
The Hostage Families Forum issued a statement criticising Netanyahu, stating that the delay in signing an agreement had led to the deaths of many captives. Some families, such as that of Carmel Gat, refused to speak with the Prime Minister and instead urged Israelis to join the protests.
US President Joe Biden expressed his devastation and outrage at the deaths, particularly that of 23-year-old Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin. Biden reaffirmed his commitment to securing the release of remaining hostages and warned that Hamas leaders would face consequences for their actions.
As tens of thousands protest in Tel Aviv to demand Netanyahu allow a prisoner exchange/ceasefire, Israeli forces are responding with stun grenades.
Israel has been at war with its neighbors since its inception. Now it appears it may go to war with itself.pic.twitter.com/55eEI1T40p
— Wyatt Reed (@wyattreed13) September 1, 2024
