By Black Star News
Photos: YouTube Screenshots
Around half-a-million Israelis protested Sunday in Israel calling for an end to the war in Gaza, and bring the Israeli hostages home. It was one of the largest demonstrations in Israel, since the Oct 7 attacks.
Sunday’s rally was the climax of a day of nationwide protests and general strike where the goal was to pressure the government into stopping the Israeli military war in Gaza. The Hostage and Missing Families Forum, which organized the protests, said there was around half a million protesters Sunday in Tel Aviv.
One of the Israeli hostages, Matan Zangauker, in a video that was shows throughout Israel, was seen looking feeble and gaunt. Matan’s mother, Einav Zangauker, said, “We demand a comprehensive and achievable agreement and an end to the war.We demand what is rightfully ours – our children. The Israeli government has transformed a just war into a pointless war. ”
The protests come as the Israel’s security cabinet gave the green light for the Israeli military to move into Gaza, to capture it. Protesters pledged to “shut down the country” and bring the hostages home. Over 30 protesters were arrested. Netanyahu attacked the protesters claiming that the protests would “not only harden Hamas’s position and draw out the release of our hostages, but also ensure that the horrors of 7 October will reoccur.”
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich echoed a similar sentiment saying the demonstrations were “a bad and harmful campaign that plays into Hamas’ hands, buries the hostages in the tunnels and attempts to get Israel to surrender to its enemies and jeopardize its security and future.”
However, opposition leader, Benny Gantz, denounced the government for “attacking the families of the hostages” and said the government bore “responsibility for the captivity of their children by Hamas for nearly two years.”
In recent days, Egypt has said that it is renewing a push to secure a 60-day truce, which includes the release of hostages.
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