Tens of thousands of protesters joined hostage families marching from separate demonstrations on Hostages Square, Habima Square and Begin Road in Central Tel-Aviv on Saturday evening, July 19, and attended a large demonstration outside the US Embassy on Hayarkon Street, to urge a comprehensive deal to return all remaining hostages and end the deadly war in Gaza.
A press statement was given by family members of hostages being held in Gaza outside the Tel Aviv Israeli army headquarters. Yehuda Cohen, father of soldier Nimrod Cohen, said “Hundreds of soldiers died in the war, not one of them should have been even slightly harmed to bring back the hostages,” he said. “We can bring everyone back in a deal. We can stop the cycle of bereavement. We can and should end the war in a deal.” Einav Zangauker, mother of Matan, also stated that most Israelis are against the war and demanding a deal. “An entire nation wants to bring back all 50 hostages and end the war in a comprehensive deal, but [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu is stalling for time instead of signing it – he is playing petty political games at the expense of the hostages and the soldiers.”
On Saturday evening fascists assaulted the car transporting Hadash lawmaker Ayman Odeh to an anti-war protest in Ness Ziona, days after the Knesset failed to approve a motion to expel him from the legislature. According to Zo Haderekh demonstrators repeatedly cursed Odeh and chanted “death to Arabs”. Police arrested three Ness Ziona residents on suspicion of damaging Odeh’s vehicle, including cracking the windshield, describing the attack as “rare and severe.” On Sunday morning, the three individuals who were arrested after attacking the car of MK Odeh were released from custody by the Rishon Lezion Magistrate’s Court. Two are sent to house arrest, and the other, a minor, is set free without restrictions. The judge states that “numerous other members of the mob who surrounded and attacked Odeh’s car can be seen committing crimes but were not arrested.”
On Saturday night, Odeh accused the police of standing by doing nothing when he was attacked by right-wing counter-protesters during an anti-war demonstration in Ness Ziona earlier. “This morning, we were informed that fascist extremists had threatened to attack us if we showed up, but we decided not to back down. We decided that no one will silence our voices,” he tweets.”I was attacked by dozens of thugs. They assaulted my staff and me with stones, sticks, and anything they could get their hands on. They surrounded our car, shattered the windows, and shouted ‘Death to Arabs’ the entire time. All the while, Ben Gvir’s police stood by and did nothing.”
“But even in the face of such terrible violence, we will not be silent. On the contrary: it only strengthens our resolve, and our will to fight,” he says. “We do not surrender to fascism. We stand firm against it, Jews and Arabs together, and we will defeat it. The struggle is clear: Democracy or fascism. As we did tonight, I will stand tall in the face of fascists, with my head held high, and I will attend every protest across the country.”
The fascists also surrounded and yelled at MK Ofer Cassif, who later accused the far-right government of supporting political violence. “Just so it’s clear: There is legitimacy and even encouragement from the government to violence and murder of its opponents,” he tweeted.
Hundreds of anti-occupation activists hold pictures of Palestinian children killed in Gaza at a protest calling to end the war, at Rotschild Boulevard in Central Tel Aviv, July 19, 2025 (Photo: Erik Marmor/Flash90)
Hadash and the Communist Party of Israel responded to the assault, condemning the violence and asserting that it would not silence their voice. “The brutal attack against Knesset members Ayman Odeh and Ofer Cassif in Ness Ziona comes from above, rooted in the organized incitement by those who fear a future for peace and democracy. They are afraid that we will raise our voices in a joint struggle against the occupation and for the expansion of the democratic space,” said.
They added that the damage to Odeh’s car “echoes the dark days when a powerless individual, now a mass murderer, used a car as a symbol of violence.” Hadash vowed, “The writing is on the wall, but we will erase it without fear and continue to engage with the public. Our struggle has already won, and it will continue to prevail.”
President Isaac Herzog condemned the attack saying: “I strongly condemn the violence used tonight against Member of Knesset Ayman Odeh in Nes Ziona.” According to him, “Violence crosses a red line and has no place or justification in Israeli society – not toward a public servant and not toward any person. Those responsible for this ugly act must face the full severity of the law.” Also, opposition leader MK Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid), The Democrats chairman Yair Golan and Blue and White party leader MK Benny Gantz denounced the violence toward Odeh, with the latter calling on coalition members also to condemn “this dangerous incident.” Golan asserted that the incident was the “direct result of prolonged political incitement,” citing the failed effort to boot Odeh from parliament. “Those who vote in the Knesset in favor of ousting an Arab public official because of his opinions cannot be shocked when rioters attack him in the street,” Golan said, calling the incident “an attack against the entire Arab minority in Israel.”
Some 90 additional protests and rallies take place Saturday throughout the country, including at the southern Sha’ar HaNegev Junction, Haifa, Carmel Gat, Jerusalem (where cops brutally attacked protesters against war crimes in Gaza), Nahariya, Raanna, Beer Sheva and Carmiel.
Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=32798
