In the wake of intensified ground assaults on Gaza and increased air strikes by Israel, a wave of protests has emerged among Israeli citizens in various cities, notably including the capital, Tel Aviv.
On Friday Israeli citizens gathered at the gage of the Ministry of Defense in Tel Aviv and demanded immediate ceasefire. The protesters were carrying play cards and chanted slogans demanding their government to stop bombardment on Gaza.
Families of Israeli detainees in Gaza were also among the protesters. They demanded Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to release all nearly 8,000 Palestinians from Israeli jails in exchange for all Israeli detainees in Gaza.
A demonstration in Tel Aviv demanding a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Now THAT is real courage! Humanity lives! pic.twitter.com/6Cq0OLmDaP
— Edward Hulme ???????????? (@hulme_edward) October 29, 2023
Protests were also reported in other parts of Tel Aviv during which the protesters mainly family members of the detainees blocked roads and demanded a ceasefire.
It is pertinent to mention here that many Israeli detainees in Gaza were also killed in the bombardment of Israeli jets.
Earlier, on Saturday crowds gathered in Tel Aviv and outside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s home in Caesarea to demand a ceasefire in the war in Gaza.
Among the demonstrators were relatives of the more than 200 people held hostage in the Gaza Strip, whose fate has become increasingly precarious.
#BREAKING| Families of Israeli detainees in #Gaza block a street in Tel Aviv. Reports stated that protesters chanted “all in exchange for all”, demanding to release all nearly 8000 Palestinians from Israeli jails in exchange for all Israeli detainees in #Gaza. pic.twitter.com/0IWC3QavYi
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) October 28, 2023
“All for all,” protesters chanted outside the Kirya, the army’s headquarters in Tel Aviv, holding placards of children taken by Hamas militants during raids into Israel On October 7.
“We’re sick of the slogans. Our loved ones are running out of time,” others cried.
Some protesters held banners calling on Mr Netanyahu to resign. Others lit candles that spelled out “guilty” and “shame”.
A similar demonstration occurred outside the Jerusalem home of Economy Minister Nir Barkat.
About 20 vigils took place on Saturday evening. The protests came as Mr Netanyahu and his wife met with representatives of hostage families.
Hamas has demanded the release of all Palestinian prisoners in Israel in exchange for the release of Israeli and foreign hostages held in Gaza. Four have been released so far.
The Israeli military has declined the offer, calling it “psychological terror” and said it was working to release the hostages through several channels.
