Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators gathered in Tel Aviv yesterday to demand an end to the war in Gaza and the release of the hostages, in what was seen as one of the largest rallies in Israel since October 2023. “Bring them all back! Stop the war!” chanted the massive crowd assembled at Tel Aviv’s so-called Hostages Square, a symbolic meeting point for demonstrators throughout the conflict.
The rally was organized by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which estimated participation at 500,000 people — a figure not confirmed by police. “We demand a comprehensive and viable agreement and an end to the war,” said Einav Zangauker, the mother of a hostage and a leading figure in the protest movement.
FYI: The United States has announced it will stop issuing visas for visitors from Gaza, a decision that puts at risk their access to medical treatment in the U.S.
Protests were also staged in other cities under the umbrella of a general strike, intended to intensify pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In some of them, demonstrators clashed with police. Authorities reported more than 30 arrests.
Netanyahu sharply criticized the protests, saying that such actions “not only harden Hamas’s position and delay the release of our hostages, but also ensure that the atrocities of October 7 will be repeated.”
What is fyi.news?
