Thousands demonstrated for the release of hostages and against the far-right government across Israel on Saturday, October 26, against. Some 3,000 protesters gathered on Tel Aviv’s Begin Road, outside the Israeli army headquarters, to demand a hostage deal and rail against the government, as around 2,000 gathered for a staider rally at Hostages Square, a block away.
In Jerusalem, protesters marched from Zion Square to nearby Paris Square, calling for a deal and among them several peace activists demanded the end of the war in Gaza and Lebanon. In Caesarea, anti-government protesters demonstrated near one of far-right Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s private residences.
Protests were also held in Haida, Kiryat Gat, Beer Sheva, Kfar Saba, Ness Ziona, Eilat, Sha’ar Hanegev Junction, Rehovot, Zichron Yaakov, Eilat and at other localities, including various highway junctions, across the country. At Karkur Junction, in northern Israel, police forcibly removed demonstrators who were blocking the road.
Police officers forcibly remove a protester blocking the road at Karkur Junction in northern Israel, calling for a deal to the release of Israelis held hostage in Gaza and against the far-right government, October 26, 2024 (Photo: Karkur-Pardes Hana Protest Movement)
During pre-protest press conference on Saturday afternoon at Begin Road, Yifat Calderon, whose cousin Ofer Calderon is held hostage, said “After the attack in Iran, we are anxious about regional escalation, which will take us further away from a deal and impose a death sentence on our loved ones in captivity.” Speaking on Begin Road, Danny Elgarat, brother of hostage Itzik Elgarat, addresses Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, demanding to know why the hostage deal is stalling. He demands Netanyahu go to Doha himself for the hostage talks that will resume there after about two months, “Stop playing for time and seal the deal.”
Bolstering the Begin Road protest were the liberal Movement for Quality Government and anti-government and anti-occupation groups, among them Hadash and Breaking the Silence. Police confiscated a “stop the massacre in Gaza” sign during the protest.
Tonight, at 8 p.m. will be held another demonstration in Tel-Aviv at Kaplan Street against the war in Gaza and Lebanon and the ethnic cleansing of northern Gaza Strip. Tomorrow, Monday, all protest groups planned a huge demonstration against the government near the office of the Prime Minister in Jerusalem.
Netanyahu was heckled today afternoon by bereaved families as he spoke at a ceremony in memory of the civilian victims of the October 7 massacre and subsequent war. Netanyahu pauses as relatives of those killed shout that their family members were murdered, while others cry out “Shame on you!” The premier restarts his speech after the hecklers were removed from the event by cops.
Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=32177
