In the area known as “Hostages Square,” in the heart of Tel Aviv, a massive gathering brought together hundreds of thousands of people on Sunday, who amidst chants, drums, and banners, expressed their rejection of the handling of the conflict in Gaza by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
PUBLICIDAD
Some of the attendees were carrying images of those who are still in Gaza’s hands. It is estimated that about 20 hostages are still alive in the Palestinian territory.
PUBLICIDAD
Other participants expressed their concern about a possible new Israeli military offensive in densely populated areas of the enclave, which they fear could put the captives at risk.
One of those present was Ruby Chen, father of the Israeli-American soldier Itay Chen, who was killed during the attacks on October 7, 2023, and whose body is still in Gaza. “Life comes before revenge, and that is exactly what we ask this government to remember,” he expressed in statements to the American media outlet NBC News.
National protests and general strike
The demonstration in Tel Aviv was part of a day of large-scale protests in Israel. In front of politicians’ homes, military installations, and on major highways, citizens blocked roads and lit bonfires to show their rejection of the prolongation of the conflict.
Some restaurants and theaters decided to close their doors as a show of solidarity with the cause. The police arrested 38 people during the riots.
These actions were supported by a general strike called by groups representing the hostages’ families. The Forum of Families of Hostages and Disappeared Persons reported that close to a million people joined the demonstrations in different parts of the country.
At the epicenter of the protest, the “Hostages Square,” the atmosphere turned solemn as former hostages and relatives of the kidnapped took to the main stage to demand concrete progress towards an agreement that would allow the captives to be released. According to estimates, around 250 people were captured during the Hamas attack on October 7th.
During the protest, some messages and videos were directed directly at the President of the United States, Donald Trump, urging him to put pressure on Netanyahu to reach an agreement with Hamas that would allow for the return of the hostages.
This Monday, Hamas announced that it had accepted a ceasefire proposal presented by Qatar and Egypt for Gaza. According to sources from the Israeli government, the proposal would include a 60-day truce and the release of ten hostages in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners.
Sources close to the negotiations indicated that Hamas gave in on two contentious points that derailed the talks in Doha last month, including the release of prisoners serving life sentences and the size of the buffer zone along the border with Gaza.
The government maintains its position in the face of criticism.
Despite the magnitude of the protests, the Israeli government has shown no signs of changing course. Netanyahu reaffirmed his determination to continue the military offensive until achieving the total defeat of Hamas. In statements to his cabinet, the prime minister stated that those calling for a ceasefire are “hardening Hamas’ position” and “delaying the release of our hostages.”
Bezalel Smotrich, Minister of Finance and one of the most radical members of the cabinet, disqualified the protests by calling them a “toxic and harmful campaign” that, according to him, endangers the country’s security.
The government’s stance also seems to have the support of Trump, who on Monday wrote on his Truth Social network that “we will only see the return of the remaining hostages when Hamas is confronted and destroyed.”