After six Israeli hostages who had been taken by the Palestinian militant group Hamas were found dead in the Gaza Strip, Israel witnessed its largest protest since the Gaza war. According to foreign media, at least 700,000 people took to the streets.
On the 1st (local time), major Israeli cities such as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem held the largest protests since the Gaza war began. The Israeli Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum told the US CNN network that at least 700,000 people participated in the protests, with 550,000 alone in Tel Aviv. The local daily Times of Israel reported that the protest size was about 300,000 in Tel Aviv and 500,000 nationwide.
Protesters occupied major highways in Tel Aviv and criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu for not making efforts to release the hostages or negotiate a ceasefire. They also demanded the prime minister’s resignation, holding him responsible for the hostages’ deaths.
Hostage families criticized, saying, "The delay in ceasefire negotiations is leading to the death of hostages," and "Prime Minister Netanyahu only cares about maintaining his power and lacks empathy."
In Jerusalem, protesters surrounded the Prime Minister’s Office.
Histadrut, Israel’s largest labor union with 800,000 members, held a general strike on the 2nd to pressure for ceasefire negotiations.
They took to the streets carrying Israeli flags, yellow flags symbolizing hostage release, and placards reading "Oppose the government of death." The general strike involved major labor unions from transportation, distribution, and administrative sectors.
Internal conflicts within the government are also intensifying. According to CNN, Minister Galant said at a cabinet meeting on the 1st, "I was taught never to leave the wounded behind," calling the situation "a moral disgrace." He added, "If we want the hostages to be alive, there is no time to waste."
On the other hand, Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister classified as far-right within the government, filed an emergency injunction with the Ministry of Justice against the general strike for hostage release, claiming it "represents Hamas’s interests."
Foreign media predict that these protests could mark a turning point in the Gaza war. The British daily The Guardian said, "It is still too early to conclude," but added, "This protest could inject new energy into the movement demanding a ceasefire and hostage release, potentially leading to the overthrow of the Netanyahu government and calls for new elections."
The Telegraph stated, "In some ways, this tragedy recalls the 1972 Munich Olympic massacre," and predicted it would have repercussions in Israel for years to come. It added, "Prime Minister Netanyahu’s position remains firm, but the coalition he relies on to extend his political life is fragile. If Minister Galant resigns or protests intensify, it could collapse overnight."
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