Israel Protest: Hundreds of thousands of people protested in Israel on Sunday after six hostages were killed in Gaza. The anger grew over the country’s leadership’s failure to secure a ceasefire deal to release the captives.
Israeli media reported that 300,000 people gathered in Tel Aviv and another 200,000 protested across the country. They called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure the release of the remaining 101 hostages.
🚨🇮🇱 MASSIVE PROTEST in Israel calling on Netanyahu to RESIGN IMMEDIATELY! pic.twitter.com/tMU5EDD3YA
— Jackson Hinkle 🇺🇸 (@jacksonhinklle) September 1, 2024
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Video footage showed Tel Aviv’s main highway packed with protesters carrying flags featuring pictures of the killed hostages. Israeli TV footage showed police using water cannons on demonstrators who had blocked the roads. Local media reported 29 arrests. The country’s labor leaders announced a one-day general strike for Monday.
Gaza Hostages’ Bodies Found: Israel Vows To Pursue Perpetrators
On Sunday, the Israeli military announced that it had recovered the bodies of hostages from a tunnel in Rafah, Gaza. The hostages—Carmel Gat, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Ori Danino—were returned to Israel, according to Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari. Forensic analysis revealed they had been “murdered by Hamas terrorists in several close-range shots” 48-72 hours before. Facing increasing pressure to end nearly 11 months of war and secure a ceasefire deal, Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed that Israel would not rest until those responsible were caught.
As tens of thousands protest in Tel Aviv to demand Netanyahu allow a prisoner exchange/ceasefire, Israeli forces are responding with stun grenades.
Israel has been at war with its neighbors since its inception. Now it appears it may go to war with itself.pic.twitter.com/55eEI1T40p
— Wyatt Reed (@wyattreed13) September 1, 2024
Israel’s campaign in Gaza started after Hamas and other militants killed around 1,200 people and took about 250 hostages in attacks on Israel on October 7, according to Israeli reports. Since then, Israel’s actions have devastated much of Gaza, which has a population of 2.3 million. The Gaza health ministry reports that at least 40,738 Palestinians have been killed. Displaced people are suffering from inadequate shelter and a severe hunger crisis.
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