Protests calling for the immediate release of the hostages, the end of the war and against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right government were held across Israel on Saturday night, June 7. In Tel-Aviv, police violently did not allow activists for second week from Looking the Occupation in the Eye organization to enter the main protest area in front of the army headquarters at Begin Road carrying signs with slogans against occupation, ethnic cleansing and war crimes
“Refuse” [in Hebrew],”Say No”, hundreds of people lining both sides of Tel Aviv’s Kaplan Street hold up candles and pictures of Palestinian children who were killed in Gaza by the occupation army, Saturday evening, June 7, 2025 (Photo: Itai Ron / Flash90)
Following the release of a photo of Israeli hostage Matan Zangauker from Hamas captivity, his mother, Einav Zangauker, spoke at a demonstration calling for the return of the hostages in Tel Aviv, outside the defense establishment headquarters. “Today, Hamas announced that my son is in imminent danger,” she said. “The military pressure is closing in on him and is placing him in immediate danger. The decision to expand the ground operation comes at the cost of Matan’s life and the lives of all the hostages.” Zangauker also said that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “continues to sacrifice the hostages. He is using the Israel Defense Forces not to protect Israel’s security, but to continue the war and protect his government.” “Netanyahu, if my Matan does not return alive, his blood will be in your hands,” she continued.
Near the demonstration in Begin Road, hundreds of people lining both sides of Tel Aviv’s Kaplan Street hold up candles and pictures of Palestinian children who were killed in Gaza by the occupation army since Israel resumed hostilities against Palestinians in Gaza on March 18. Each child’s picture includes his or her name as well as date and place of death. Similar protests with pictures of Palestinian children were held simultaneously at Jerusalem, Haifa and Kfar Sava.
The weekly Kaplan Street vigil did not take place last Saturday, with its organizer, the Partnership for Peace coalition of numerous peace and anti-occupation groups, urging activists to instead attend a large anti-war demonstration in Haifa.
Earlier, thousands of anti-government protesters rallied at Tel Aviv’s Habima Square. Former deputy attorney general Dina Zilber accuses government ministers of inciting against protesters and the judiciary. “Who are the top inciters?” she asks. “Not some crazy fringe, but the Israeli government and its head.” On the south side of the square, left-wing protesters, among them Hadash and Communist Party of Israel activists hold their demonstration, unfurling a large banner calling for the creation of an independent Palestinian state. These protesters leave ahead of the main rally to attend a silent vigil for slain Gaza children on Kaplan Street.
Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=32711
