In response to the escalation, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, representing the majority of relatives of Israeli hostages, has set up a protest encampment outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence.
In London, groups including UK Friends of Standing Together – a British outpost of the Israeli-based left-wing organisation Standing Together – have protested against Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The demonstration on Sunday is organised by grassroots activists inspired by similar initiatives in Israel, where protesters have held images of children who have been killed in the war.
Lewis said the event “offers a distinctive perspective within the Jewish and Israeli community, and in the wider British public.”
The Israeli activist has lived in the UK for 25 years and told the JC that members of the public walking past previous protests had been “largely supportive”.
“Being Israeli gives us credibility because it is not easy to turn against your country, even though in Israel half the people do [protest against the war].”
Lewis added that some members of the Jewish community and other Israelis have criticised their stance though: “We had some arguments with people who [ask] the usual ‘What about Hamas, what about the hostages?’ [questions].”
But, he explained, “Stopping the war gives the best chance for hostages to come back alive. The war continuing is a death sentence to them.”
“Released hostages have said what they feared the most [in captivity] was Israeli bombing. We know the six were executed when the IDF came close to them in the tunnels.”
Pointing to the “enormous protest” against the war within Israel, Lewis said: “The majority of Israelis are in favour of ending the war, mostly because of the hostages and practical reasons, not because of morality. I don’t think I can say the same of British Jews."
“Jews [in the UK] have a stronger fear of coming out against Israel. There is a fear of antisemitism.”
A poster advertising the demonstration (Lewis)[Missing Credit]
But Lewis is encouraging Britons to join the protest: “I think we are doing more than others to say Israelis and Jews are not all aligned with the horrors that the Netanyahu government is doing.”
Lewis is critical of Netanyahu, whom brands “cynical”, and is frustrated that the Israeli government appears to have no plan for the day after the war.
"I don’t understand someone thinking they would be better off by not protesting against Israel at all ... What is going on now is way beyond the usual discourse about the occupation.”
Lewis was part of the wave anti-judicial reforms protests that engulfed Israel in 2023 before the war began. But protests in the diaspora against Netanyahu since then have been more complicated.
People “splintered” over Israel’s actions in Gaza, Lewis said.
The activist has attended several Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) protests in central London with the Jewish bloc and has also marched during anti-antisemitism demonstrations.
He said “it is never simple” attending the PSC rallies because “I know a small percentage hate me and want me dead”, but thinks the vast majority of protesters are welcoming.
However, at march against antisemitism last year, he claimed he was “violently attacked” by a pro-Israel activist.
He added that he has been called a “useful idiot” by some.
