Tens of thousands of Israelis protest as calls for captive deal intensify

al Jazeera:

Tens of thousands of Israelis protest as calls for captive deal intensify

Huge numbers of Israelis turned out to protest against the government’s failure to secure the return of remaining captives.

A demonstrator waves Israeli and US flags during a protest against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government in Tel Aviv. [Ariel Schalit/AP Photo]

Published On 8 Sep 20248 Sep 2024


Tens of thousands of Israeli protesters took to the streets on Saturday in a new wave of protests to press Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to sign a deal with Hamas to free captives held in Gaza.

An estimated 750,000 people hit the streets across Israel, including Tel Aviv and Haifa, as well as the Karkur Junction area near Haifa, according to local media reports.

“I think even those who were, maybe, reluctant to go out, who are not used to protest, who are sad but prefer to be in private space within their sadness, understood our voice must join together to one huge scream: Bring the hostages with a deal. Do not risk their lives,” said one protester in Tel Aviv, Efrat Machikawa, niece of captive Gadi Moses.

The protesters have been calling on the government to agree to a ceasefire deal to free dozens of captives in Gaza. The recovery of six captives’ bodies last week has reignited the anger against Netanyahu, who has insisted on a military solution to the issue.

But most of the captives have been freed through dialogue. At least 105 captives were freed as part of a truce last November. Hamas’s demand for a ceasefire and swapping of captives with Palestinian prisoners have been rejected by Netanyahu.

Israel estimates more than 100 captives are still being held in Gaza, some of whom are believed to be killed.

Hundreds of protesters blocked main roads in Tel Aviv and Haifa, leading to clashes with the police and arrests, according to Channel 12 TV, which noted that demonstrations on Saturday were “among the largest protests the country has seen since October 7, 2023”.

Israel’s onslaught against Gaza has killed more than 40,900 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured nearly 94,700, according to local health authorities.

Israel has also curbed the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza leading to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel faces accusations of genocide for its actions in Gaza at the International Court of Justice.

Protesters in Tel Aviv raise placards and Israeli flags during an antigovernment rally calling for action to secure the release of the captives held in Gaza. [Jack Guez/AFP]

Thousands gathered in cities across Israel, including Tel Aviv and Haifa, as well as the Karkur Junction near Haifa. [Jack Guez/AFP]

Organisers say there were 500,000 protesters in Tel Aviv, with 250,000 others joining rallies in towns elsewhere in the country. [Ariel Schalit/AP Photo]

Antigovernment protests have become an almost daily occurrence as frustration grows at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s failure to reach a deal with Hamas to exchange captives and end Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip. [Florion Goga/Reuters]

According to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), there have been an average of 113 protests across Israel per month since October last year. [Leo Correa/AP Photo]

Demonstrators around a fire during the antigovernment protests in Tel Aviv. [Jack Guez/AFP]

Israel has been under increasing pressure from the United States and other allies to reach a ceasefire deal. [Jack Guez/AFP]