“According to the organizers of the protests in Tel Aviv about gathered 300 thousand people” – reported the daily “Haaretz”. Hundreds of them they are blocking the main highway running through the city and burning bonfires. In some places there were violent clashes with the police. 15 people were arrested. Demonstrations are also taking place in Jerusalem, Haifa and other cities of Israel.
“Tomorrow the whole country will come to a standstill” – announced the head of the largest Histadrut trade union, Arnon Bar-David, announcing a general strike on Monday. “I am here to ensure that no one is abandoned. Jews do not abandon Jews! Our children cannot die in tunnels because of political calculations,” Bar-David said.
Protests in Israel. Demonstrators demand the release of hostages
Israelis have been regularly protesting against the government for months, demanding that it conclude a ceasefire agreement in the nearly 11-month-long war in the Gaza Strip. Part of the agreement is exchange of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
During the attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, Hamas and other Palestinian terrorist groups murdered nearly 1,200 people and kidnapped 251. Among the hostages captured that day 97 are believed to still be in Gazathe Israeli army has previously stated that 33 people from this group are now dead.
A part of Israeli public opinion has long been accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu He is dragging out months of negotiations for political gain, and his far-right coalition partners are opposed to a ceasefire. “News of six more terrorist victims, who forensic experts say were shot dead just days ago, has fueled protesters' anger and frustration,” Reuters reported.
– Every day Netanyahu is playing Russian roulette with the lives of hostages and will not stop until they are all dead.these six could have been saved, and the rest of the living hostages may still survive, said Einaw Zangauker, whose son Matan is being held in Gaza, at a rally in Tel Aviv.
General Strike Announced. Israel Threatens Paralysis
The demonstrators had previously called on the Histadrut to call a general strike in protest against the government.
The strike planned for Monday will include, among others: closure of kindergartens or the main international airport in Tel Aviv. The protest was supported by, among others, a forum associating the largest private employers, some local governments, including the Tel Aviv authorities, the association of rectors of Israeli universities, and the largest opposition party There is a Future and its leader Yair Lapid.
It will be the first general strike in Israel since the outbreak of the Gaza war.
The authorities want to prevent the strike
Minister of Finance and leader of the nationalist party Religious Zionism Bezalel Smotrich asked Prosecutor General Gala Baharaw-Miara to issuing orders to prevent Monday's strike.
The protest is “purely political in nature and has no legal basis“, trade unions should not deal with national security issues,” Smotrich argued in a letter to Baharaw-Miara.