Tens of thousands of Zionists took to the streets on Sunday evening, particularly in `Tel` Aviv and Al-Quds (Jerusalem), demanding a prisoner exchange deal and protesting the killing of additional Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
Protesters closed a major road in `Tel Aviv`, the entrance to Al-Quds, and a central street in `Be’er Sheva`. Demonstrations also occurred in Karmiel and Rehovot. According to the Israeli public broadcasting service “Kan 11,” a police source reported that around 100,000 people participated in the Kaplan Street protest in `Tel Aviv`.
This surge in protests coincides with growing criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is being blamed for the killing of six Israeli hostages held by Hamas. Their bodies were found inside a tunnel in Rafah, southern Gaza.
Protesters, including families of the Gaza hostages, blocked the Ayalon Highway heading south, demanding a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas. Later, the road was reopened to traffic by Israeli occupation police forces.
⚡️BREAKING: The Israeli police uses skunk water to disperse protesters in Tel Aviv who are demonstrating against Netanyahu and demanding his resignation. pic.twitter.com/b2aQeBK8c5
— Suppressed News. (@SuppressedNws) September 1, 2024
In occupied Jerusalem, protesters completely blocked the city’s entrance for over two hours. The police responded by deploying additional officers and a water cannon. In a subsequent statement, the police announced the arrest of five individuals described as “rioters.”
Before blocking the entrance, dozens had demonstrated outside Zionist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in the city.
A spokesperson for one of the protest groups stated, “When Netanyahu says, ‘Those who want a deal don’t kill hostages’ (referring to Netanyahu’s accusations against Hamas), he is speaking about himself and those who have actually voted to sacrifice the hostages.”
“The hostages could have been returned home alive. Regardless of how we handle the situation, the Israeli government and its leader deliberately sacrificed the captives until their deaths,” the group stressed.
In a statement released on Sunday, Hamas confirmed that “the prisoners were killed by Zionist bombardment” and urged U.S. President Joe Biden to halt his support for Israel and pressure it to end its aggression against Gaza immediately.
Wide Strike on Monday
The Histadrut (“Israel’s” General Federation of Labor) announced a comprehensive economic strike in the occupied territories for Monday, following discussions on the move. This decision was made in response to a call from the Forum of Families of Prisoners and Hostages held in Gaza, aiming to pressure Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to negotiate a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas.
Histadrut Chairman Arnon Bar-David declared the strike in a statement, emphasizing, “I will not tolerate abandoning the Israeli prisoners held in Gaza.”
The teachers’ union also announced a strike affecting kindergartens and partial closures in primary schools, which will last from the morning until 11:45 AM.
According to Maariv Israeli newspaper, the municipalities of three major cities—Givatayim, Hod Hasharon, and Kfar Saba—have joined the strike and protests planned for Monday.
The Histadrut indicated that the strike will extend to the municipalities of Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, and Haifa, with bus services in Jerusalem also suspended. Additionally, the strike will affect the Ministries of Defense, Interior, Finance, Economy, Health, and Education, as well as Ben Gurion Airport and major airlines.
Source: News Agencies
