Large-scale protests have erupted in Israel against the government's operation to seize control of Gaza City.
According to Yonhap News and other foreign media outlets on August 17, victim groups such as the "October Forum" and the "Hostage and Missing Families Forum," which include families of hostages held by Hamas, launched a nationwide general strike starting at 6:29 a.m. that day.
On this first weekday after the weekend, protesters occupied major highways, including Route 1 connecting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, setting fires on the roads as part of their demonstrations. Some gathered in front of the residences of key ministers-including Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer, Education Minister Yoav Kisch, and Economy and Industry Minister Nir Barkat-chanting slogans demanding the release of hostages.
Many citizens also gathered at Tel Aviv's "Hostage Square," which has become a symbolic site for ceasefire rallies since the outbreak of war on October 7, 2023. Participants hung yellow signs reading "A mother never gives up" on empty strollers symbolizing children killed in the Hamas attack, appealing for an end to the war.
Histadrut, Israel's largest labor federation, announced it would not participate in the general strike but would not prevent individual workers from joining. Major IT companies such as Meta, Wix, and Microsoft declared their support for the strike, and Haifa port workers also joined the protests.
The Tel Aviv municipal government suspended the operation of community centers and cultural events, while the city of Herzliya provided public transportation to "Hostage Square." Leading universities-including Tel Aviv University, Ben-Gurion University, and the University of Haifa-also fostered an atmosphere encouraging faculty and students to participate in the strike.
Previously, on August 7, Israel's security cabinet, led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, approved a plan to seize Gaza City, a densely populated area in the northern Gaza Strip. Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi objected, warning that the operation could endanger the lives of hostages; however, on August 13, he ultimately accepted the cabinet's proposed operational plan.
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