Tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets on Sunday, protesting the government’s handling of the hostage crisis following the recovery of six bodies from Gaza. The victims were among those taken by Hamas during the 7 October attacks on Israel. The demonstrators, many draped in Israeli flags, marched through major cities including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, expressing outrage at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his administration for their perceived failure to secure the release of the remaining hostages.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that the six hostages, identified as Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Master Sgt Ori Danino, were found deceased in an underground tunnel in Rafah on Saturday. According to the IDF, the hostages had been killed shortly before Israeli troops reached the site. The discovery of the bodies sparked immediate and widespread protests across the country.
In Tel Aviv, protesters broke through police barricades and blocked Ayalon Highway, leading to intense confrontations with law enforcement. Some demonstrators climbed onto buses and bins to gain a better view, while others encircled a person wearing a mask of Netanyahu, chanting “Alive, alive, we want them alive.” The protests also saw signs accusing Netanyahu and his government of failing to act effectively. Yellow ribbons symbolizing solidarity with the hostages were draped along roadsides, and some participants set fires in the streets.
The unrest prompted the Histadrut, Israel’s major labor union, to call for a nationwide general strike on Monday to pressure the government into negotiating a hostage deal. The strike aims to highlight the urgency of securing an agreement and address the frustrations of the public, including families of the hostages.
Labor Party lawmaker Naama Lazimi, who was injured during the protests, described the demonstrations as significant and stressed the need for a resolution. Eli Shtivi, whose son Idan is among those held, voiced hope that the protests would prompt decisive action from those in power. Demonstrators from all segments of Israeli society participated in the rallies, unified in their demand for the return of the hostages.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid supported the calls for a strike and criticized Netanyahu’s handling of the crisis. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich condemned the general strike, accusing it of serving Hamas’s interests. Meanwhile, Tel Aviv’s Mayor Ron Huldai offered municipal workers the freedom to join the strike in support of the hostages and their families.
The situation remains dire as negotiations continue. Since the 7 October attacks, which resulted in 251 hostages being taken and over 1,200 Israelis killed, Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has led to significant casualties, with more than 40,530 reported deaths in the territory according to Hamas-run health authorities.
