Israel on the Brink: Massive Protests Erupt Following Hostage Tragedy

Numerous Israelis gathered in the streets advocating for a ceasefire following the tragic discovery of six deceased hostages in Gaza.

Approximately 500,000 individuals participated in organized protests across various cities in Israel, as reported by the Hostage Families Forum, the entity coordinating the demonstrations.

This is thought to be the largest public display since the onset of the conflict 11 months ago.

In Tel Aviv alone, over 300,000 participants marched, carrying coffins to represent the fallen hostages, while others ignited fires in the center of one of the city’s principal highways, effectively halting traffic.

The protests were ignited following the announcement from the Israel Defence Forces that the bodies of Carmel Gat, 40, Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, Alexander Lobanov, 33, Almog Sarusi, 27, and Ori Danino, 25, were retrieved from a tunnel in southern Gaza on Saturday.

All six individuals were taken captive by Hamas on October 7, with Ms. Gat abducted from the agricultural community of Be’eri and the others from a nearby music event.

Some critics within Israel, including several demonstrators, have charged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with placing political interests ahead of the hostages’ safety and incorporating demands in potential ceasefire agreements that Hamas is unlikely to accept.

The leader of the largest trade union in the country has additionally declared a one-day general strike set to commence tomorrow, aimed at exerting pressure on Mr. Netanyahu’s administration.

Arnon Bar-David, leader of the Histadrut union, indicated that Ben Gurion Airport, the main international airport in the country, would shutter at 8 AM local time, with educational institutions, manufacturing sectors, and tech entrepreneurs anticipated to join the mass walkout alongside hundreds of thousands of workers.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich asserted that the general strike lacked a lawful foundation and urged the attorney general to submit an urgent proposal to the courts to inhibit the industrial action.

In correspondence to Gali Baharav-Miara, he indicated that the strike would have profound and unwarranted effects on the economy during wartime.

Israeli

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who has often been at odds with Mr. Netanyahu, was among those advocating for a ceasefire agreement. In addition, opposition leader and former Prime Minister Yair Lapid called on individuals to participate in a demonstration in Tel Aviv.

Reporting from Tel Aviv, Sky News’ Middle East correspondent Alistair Bunkall indicated that demonstrators had shifted from urging the government to negotiate a hostage arrangement to voicing their frustration.

According to the Reuters news agency, Israeli police reported that approximately 24 individuals were detained across the country following the protests.

Further demonstrations also occurred outside Mr. Netanyahu’s office in Jerusalem, where protesters covered their eyes with yellow fabric and ignited red flares.

‘Join the fight with us’

The Hostage Families Forum announced on X that additional protests are scheduled for Monday and encouraged the public to “show their support and join the fight with us,” providing details of 15 locations where rallies would commence as early as 7 am local time.

Mr. Netanyahu held Hamas accountable for the deaths of all six hostages, condemning the actions as “cold-blooded murder” and asserting that Israel would pursue responsibility from the group.

He further alleged that Hamas disrupted ongoing ceasefire discussions, stating, “Those who kill hostages are not seeking an agreement.”

In contrast, senior Hamas figure Izzat al-Rishq attributed the hostages’ deaths to Israel and the United States, asserting they would still be alive had Israel accepted a ceasefire proposal that Hamas agreed to support back in July.

He refrained from specifying the hostages by name.

Catch Sky News’ The World with Yalda Hakim starting Monday night at 8pm.