Mass protests across Israel as national strike for hostages begins

Yarden Bibas (Photo: Uriel Even Sapir)[Missing Credit]

“Our Alon is forty metres underground... he's in immediate life-threatening danger – save him!” said Noga Gur Arye, aunt of hostage Alon Ohel. “We as the people of Israel don’t have the privilege to ignore.”

Ayelet Goldin, sister of fallen IDF officer Lieutenant Hadar Goldin, told the crowd: “Every Israeli man and woman calls on you: close this thing, make an international effort with the power we've accumulated over the past two years. My husband serves in the army, all his brothers serve in the army, my son serves in the army. This isn't right-wing, this isn't left-wing – this is the straight and correct path.”

A demonstrator raises her hands as police officers restrain others, during an anti-government protest AFP via Getty Images

Shay Dickmann, cousin of the late Carmel Gat, who was murdered in captivity, spoke in the square: “A year ago, when there was an agreement on the table but they chose to expand the war instead of saving the hostages, my Carmel became a pool of blood in a tunnel. We can still save them.”

Actress Gal Gadot also attended the square, where she embraced Lishay Miran-Lavi, the wife of hostage Omri Miran, and met with Yocheved Lifschitz, who was held hostage and released from captivity after two weeks. Lifschitz’s British daughter has been a vocal advocate in the UK on behalf of the hostages.

Gal Gadot embraced Einav Zangauker (Photo: Lior Rotstein)[Missing Credit]

But tensions rose at multiple protest sites

A truck reportedly attempted to ram into a group of protesters from Kibbutz Nir Oz who were gathering in Tel Aviv ahead of the demonstration.

Police said they had arrested at least 32 people protesting the government today so far.

Most were detained for blocking major roads, including Begin Road and the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv. In Jerusalem, seven demonstrators were arrested during a three-hour-long march that attempted to reach Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence on Azza Street.

Support for the strike extended across many sectors of Israeli society. Thousands of doctors took part in a symbolic “White Coats” march from the Israeli Medical Association to Hostages Square. Local authorities, businesses, tech companies and universities also joined the strike or granted staff permission to participate.

'Mothers and Strollers' protest at Hostages Square (Photo: Lior Rotstein)[Missing Credit]

Twenty kilometers of yellow ribbons have been distributed at train stations and along roads.

At the Sea of Galilee, several boats passed with yellow flags. In the north, Haifa Municipality held a rally at 10am.

In the south, several convoys of tractors made their way along Route 232 – the road where Hamas terrorists murdered fleeing civilians on October 7. The Sha’ar HaNegev and Eshkol regional councils remained on strike all day, with demonstrations taking place in Sderot and Ofakim.

Protest at the Sea of Galilee[Missing Credit]

Arnon Bar-David, chairman of Histadrut, Israel’s main labour union, said that, although it had not formally joined the strike, it supported workers who chose to join in. “There is no left or right here,” he said. “This is about returning human beings who were kidnapped from their bed or from their tank.”

In a message to Prime Minister Netanyahu, Bar-David urged: “Look the hostage families in the eyes and do what needs to be done – make a deal and end this.”