Weekly demonstrations against the far-right government and calling for a hostage deal drew tens of thousands across the country Saturday night, Aug 17, amid tentative hopes that Israel’s ongoing negotiations with Hamas have put a ceasefire agreement within reach.
In Tel Aviv, tens of thousands of demonstrators, including relatives of those held hostage in Gaza, gathered at the Hostages Square for a rally demanding their loved ones’ return, and pled with the prime minister and negotiating team to arrive at an agreement before time runs out.
Demonstrators protest calling for the release the hostages held in the Gaza Strip outside the Israeli army headquarters in Tel Aviv, August 17, 2024 (Photo: Avshalom Sassoni/Flash 90)
Speaking at the rally, Eli Albag, whose daughter Liri Albag, 19, was abducted from the Nahal Oz military base, emphasized that he believes the moment is ripe for a deal, and that the choice is between finalizing an agreement or moving to a major regional war whose outcome cannot be predicted: “Hamas wants an agreement too, and Hezbollah. If there isn’t a deal — there will be an awful war,” he said.
In his speech, Albag addressed criticism to the far-right ministers, “You have no right to speak until your children are kidnapped. Then, if your children are kidnapped, you can criticize as much as you want, however you want. But if your children are not kidnapped, shut up.”
Nearby, at the intersection of Begin Road and Kaplan Street, dubbed Democracy Square, anti-government protesters, including some hostage families, held a rally, too. Along with the mass demonstration in Tel Aviv, dozens of protests were staged in cities around the country, drawing thousands of demonstrators.
Other demonstrations were held in Jerusalem, Haifa, Beersheva, Hadera, Kiryat Tivon, Gedera, Carmiel Junction in northern Israel, Caesarea outside Netanyahu’s private residence, Rehovot, Kfar Sava, Amiad junction, Nes Ziona and in numerous other locales around the country. The Karkur junction at road 65 was blocked several times by activists.
On last Thursday, Aug 16, thousands taking to the streets in Central Tel Aviv for the “Last Chance March.” Protesters demanded that negotiators dispatched to Doha keep going until a deal is sealed, arguing that time is running out for the more than 100 hostages still held in Gaza since being abducted during the October 7 massacre. Danny Elgarat, whose brother Itzik Elgarat was kidnapped from Nir Oz, said those drawing out the talks unnecessarily would be responsible if his brother dies, pointing a finger at Netanyahu’s far-right coalition allies, who have threatened to bring down the government if a hostage release deal is reached that includes a halt in fighting or troop withdrawal. “We hear of far-right ministers threatening and sabotaging chances to reach a deal. They prefer territory over lives, and don’t understand that the hostages are a testament to the largest ever security, social, moral and religious failure in Israel’s history,” he said.
According to a Channel 12 poll published on Friday, 63% of Israelis support a hostage deal, compared to only 12% who oppose it. Approximately a quarter of those who responded to the poll answered, “they don’t know.” Over half (53%) of the respondents who defined themselves as right-wing answered that they supported the deal, and only 19% opposed it. Additionally, 44% of Netanyahu’s voters support the deal. Among supporters of the opposition, 85% support the deal.
Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=32046
