Tens of thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Israeli cities on Sunday, demanding an immediate ceasefire deal with Hamas after the bodies of six hostages were discovered in Gaza tunnels.
Israel’s largest trade union called for a nationwide strike to shut down the “entire Israeli economy” on Monday, with the support of rights groups, to pressure the government to sign a truce and secure the release of the remaining hostages.
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Sunday’s demonstrations were the largest since Israel launched its war on Hamas in response to the October 7 attack, which left around 1,200 Israelis dead and 200 taken hostage. Organizers described the rally as an “endless sea of protesters,” estimating a crowd of 300,000 people in Tel Aviv and an additional 200,000 in other cities across the country.
In Tel Aviv, protesters marched to the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) headquarters, carrying six “symbolic coffins” and chanting, “We won’t abandon them” and “Now! Now!”
Many blamed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for failing to secure a deal to bring the hostages home safely.
Frustration intensified when it was alleged that three of the six hostages killed were slated for release during the first phase of a ceasefire proposal discussed in July.
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A group of protesters displayed a mock cemetery made of cardboard cutouts, with a sign saying: “named after Benjamin Netanyahu.”
Protests continue in Tel Aviv, sometimes turning into clashes between protesters and police pic.twitter.com/jg4c4fFQoF
— S p r i n t e r (@SprinterFamily) September 1, 2024