Israel-Hamas war
The demonstration is the first time that the families of the abductees have come together with other activists
Dozens of people took part in a loud fringe protest outside Israeli military headquarters in Tel Aviv on Saturday evening, protesting against the renewed bombing of the Gaza Strip, which they blame for halting the release of the estimated 130 hostages still held by Hamas.
Gathering after the regular weekly rally demanding the release of all hostages held by Hamas, the group marched around the Israel Defense Forces military base in Kirya, demanding an urgent meeting with the country’s war cabinet and pushing for a ceasefire.
Noam Shuster-Eliassi, a comedian who was part of the smaller protest, said the decision to continue the war that began again on Friday “is putting these families in distress.” [of hostages] in misery. What is their plan? Is it just ongoing bombings in Gaza?”
Many of the participants, she said, were anti-war activists trying to do “everything we can to stop this criminal government,” but she added that in the current situation, “the least we can do is… is to be with the hostage families.”
Shuster-Eliassi argued that only political efforts and diplomatic agreements could keep people alive. She said: “The only reason why some people here have oxygen and some energy in our bodies was the ceasefire that lasted a few days, during which we experienced family reunification and knew that the people of Gaza would not be bombed.”
It was the first time that the families of some of the abductees met with other activists. Speakers included Yael Adar, whose 38-year-old son Tamir remains held by Hamas even though her 85-year-old mother-in-law Yaffa was released more than a week ago.
Protesters shine lights on their cell phones during a rally in Tel Aviv in Hostages Square near the Art Museum. Photo: Quique Kierszenbaum/The Guardian
The ensuing protest ended abruptly when sirens warned of a rocket attack from Gaza into the Tel Aviv area, forcing demonstrators to take shelter under a bridge, while booms from intercepting attacks by Israel’s Iron Dome defense system could be heard in the distance.
Another anti-government protest took place in Caesarea, where Benjamin Netanyahu’s estate is located. Eran Litman, the father of Oriya who was murdered at the Nova music festival, was among those calling for his resignation.
Litman blamed the Israeli prime minister for the mistakes that led to the unexpected Hamas attack on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people in Israel. “The hands of the Israeli government and its leader are covered in blood,” he said, according to Haaretz.
The anti-government demonstrations reflect a darker mood among the hostage families. The resumption of hostilities on Friday morning abruptly ended the prospect of further releases. A seven-day ceasefire had allowed for the release of 81 Israeli women and children and 24 foreigners from Gaza, while 240 Palestinians were released from Israeli prisons.
Previously, the large vigil on Saturday evening, attended by thousands of people in front of the Tel Aviv Art Museum, reflected some of the change in mood. Hadas Calderon, whose children Sahar, 16, and Erez, 12, were recently released while their father Ofer remains in captivity, said she had mixed emotions as she spoke at the rally.
Calderon said that “a miracle happened for her and we hope a miracle happens for everyone” and that the hostage situation was “a Fortnite” for her children Game that became reality”. She added that they had no idea her parents were still alive until they were released.
She said: “Don’t forget the men,” a refrain heard frequently at the event, and said that while Israeli leaders had been brave in agreeing to a ceasefire to allow the release of people, “we “We cannot talk about the security of the state if.” “There are hostages in Gaza,” arguing that it is a problem that needs to be solved urgently.
The main Hostages and Missing Families Forum was careful not to politicize its response to the crisis, but instead focused on keeping the issue at the forefront through repeated interventions by affected families, without being too specific about how best to release the hostages can be achieved.
Still, the forum called for an urgent meeting with Israel’s security cabinet and said Saturday that its request had not been granted. “We hope that this time we will not have to mobilize the entire nation of Israel with us again or take more extreme measures to coordinate such a meeting,” it said.
Meanwhile, those publicly calling for an end to the war in Gaza remain in a small minority, despite strongly condemning the October 7 Hamas attack. “It’s difficult to be Israeli. It’s difficult to be Jewish. It’s difficult being a leftist,” Shuster-Eliassi said. “Right now it is difficult to be a logical person with humanity and conscience.”
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