Nationwide demonstrations in Israel to demand the release of Hamas hostages and pressure for a cease-fire agreement
It has been almost 11 months since the Palestinian rebel group Hamas launched the biggest attack in history on Israel. After the attack on October 7, Hamas took 251 people hostage. Six of the hostages were found dead under an underground tunnel in the Rafah area of southern Gaza.
The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) released the names of those found dead and said that five of them were Israeli citizens. According to the IDF, the bodies of Carmel Gat, Aden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi and Ori Danio and an American Goldberg Pollin were found.
About 1,200 people were killed in the October 7 attack in Israel. More than 40,700 people have died in Gaza in the attack launched by Israel in retaliation. Among the hostages, 97 people, including one Nepali, are still under the control of Hamas. It is estimated that at least 27 of them have died.
The Israelis, who have been quiet for about eleven months, are outraged after the discovery of the bodies of six people. Because of this, anti-government protests have intensified in various places in Israel. Tens of thousands of people have started demonstrations in various places in Israel with the aim of pressuring for a cease-fire agreement to free the remaining hostages.
Israel’s largest trade union ‘Histadrut’ has called for a nationwide strike for Monday. Union leader Arnon Bar-David said that ‘the release of the hostages is more important than anything else’. “But ironically, we are getting body bags rather than a ceasefire agreement,” he said.
Before the ‘Histadrut’ called for a nationwide movement, a rally against the government was held across the country on Sunday evening. Demonstrators took to the streets of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and other cities wearing clothes emblazoned with the Israeli flag. In Tel Aviv, protesters broke the police cordon and blocked the highway. The police used water cannons to disperse the protestors.
Idan’s father, Eli Stevie, who was held hostage by Hamas in Gaza, also participated in the demonstration, according to the BBC. ‘I feel very sorry for my son. All families have become like hostages in a way,’ he said.
Opposition parties, Oil Abhibha Nagar Chiefs and Major Producers Association also supported the nationwide strike. According to local media, opposition leader and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid also participated in the demonstration. Lapid, the leader of the ‘Yesh Atid’ party, has expressed his support for the strike to force Netanyahu to release the hostages.
The Missing Families Forum, a group of missing families held hostage by Hamas, had been saying for the past few weeks that they would have to go on a general strike in order to pressure Netanyahu’s government into a ceasefire with Hamas.
Demonstrators alleged that the Israeli government and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were not serious about agreeing with Hamas to release the remaining hostages. Al Jazeera reported that at least 300,000 people attended the demonstrations on Sunday evening and throughout the day on Monday.
It is said that some of the protestors surrounded the person wearing the mask of Prime Minister Netanyahu and chanted slogans saying ‘We want them alive, alive, alive, alive’. The placards carried by the protestors targeted Netanyahu and read ‘You are the leader, it is your fault’. Apart from that, it is said that some of the protestors also shouted slogans against the police.
The court has ordered to stop the general strike. The Israeli Labor Court ordered the demonstration to stop by 2:30 p.m. local time. But the demonstration continued until late in the evening, according to the BBC. They said they will continue protesting until the release of the hostages is assured.
US President Joe Biden also responded that he did not feel that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had tried for a ceasefire. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Biden said a cease-fire agreement was close and the hostages in Gaza would be released. After the body of American citizen Pauline was found on Saturday evening, President Biden issued a statement warning that Hamas leaders will pay a heavy price.
With the unprecedented demonstrations seen in Israel on Sunday and Monday, assessments have also been made that the government led by Prime Minister Netanyahu is in trouble. As the protests escalated, he said that he is committed to an agreement that will ensure the release of the remaining hostages and the security of the country.
But the protestors emphasized on its implementation rather than commitment. Israel’s sharp right-wing finance minister’s reaction to that also shows that they will be more aggressive. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said that ‘those calling for a strike now represent the interests of Hamas’.
With the ‘irresponsible’ expression of Netanyahu’s office and his cabinet members, it is expected that the demonstration will intensify in the coming days. In addition to that, US President Biden’s reaction also seems to show that Netanyahu is not serious about releasing the hostages. Because of this, the protests in the coming days are sure to shake Prime Minister Netanyahu’s chair.
But some analysts have said that the time has not yet come to make such an assessment. “It’s too early to say that,” former ambassador and government adviser Alon Pinkas told Al Jazeera. He also claims that these demonstrations will not last long.
Last November, an agreement was reached between the two sides to stop the war for some time. Along with that, some prisoners were also exchanged. It was believed to pave the way for a ceasefire. After various rounds of negotiations, the news that the two sides were close to a ceasefire agreement was also published last May. But it is said that an agreement could not be reached after Netanyahu put new and non-negotiable conditions.
Since then, thousands of people have died in Gaza in attacks by Israel. In recent days, Israel has also attacked the West Bank and Lebanon. In addition, Israel has made a strategy of releasing the hostages through military action rather than through negotiations. But the Israelis were strongly dissatisfied with this strategy. After the dead bodies of 6 people were found on Saturday, it was poured on the streets as a protest.
‘The government and the prime minister are now on the defensive,’ says Ori Goldberg, an expert on Israeli politics, ‘this is the current situation.’ Earlier, there was a demonstration against Netanyahu in 2023. Thousands of Israelis took to the streets against his plans to reform the country’s judicial system. Critics said that Netanyahu tried to reform the justice system as a way to avoid past corruption.
Similarly, in April 2024, there was a protest against Netanyahu demanding the release of hostages and a ceasefire. “Netanyahu has no interest in releasing the hostages or making a cease-fire agreement, and that’s clear,” Pincas said. All this happened because of his reluctance.’
According to a poll conducted last July, 72 percent of Israelis said that Netanyahu should resign as prime minister for failing to stop the attacks by Hamas on October 7. Since then, his popularity has been steadily declining. However, Netanyahu is seen ahead of his main rival, Benny Gantz. Netanyahu still retains the support of the sharp right, with his ministers Itamar Ben-Gavir (National Security) and Bezalel Smotrich (Finance) at the forefront.
(with the help of agencies)
