The Hostages and Missing Families Forum calls on Monday evening, August 18, for another nationwide strike to pressure the far-right government into ending the genocide war and for the release of hostages on next Sunday after a similar action on last Sunday. It says that Sunday’s protests “prove in a clear manner and a strong voice what most of the country wants: the people support the return of hostages and the end of the war!”
Hadash activists among protestors blocking Ayalon Highway in Tel-Aviv, Sunday, August 18 (Photo: Zo Haderekh)
According to the forum, activities will run all day across the country, culminating in a major evening rally in Tel Aviv. Additional activities throughout the week are planned, with details to be announced by the forum. The forum emphasized that last Sunday’s “Israel on hold” events saw 2.5 million Israelis take to the streets, reflecting widespread public demand for bringing back the 50 hostages and ending the war in Gaza.
On Sunday night, hundreds of thousands of people crowded in central Tel Aviv capping the nationwide day of protests and strikes. The rally in Tel Aviv appeared to be the biggest since the war began nearly two years ago, and according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum was attended by over half a million people. The forum also estimated that some 1 million people had taken part in protests across the country as protest groups and organizations joined forces to stage a major day of civil disobedience after the cabinet voted earlier this month to occupy Gaza City After the speeches, thousands of people blocked major junctions in the city and Ayalon Highway, marched to the Likud party headquarters at King George Street, where they lit a bonfire and clashed with police. Police stopped the demonstrators from reaching the entrance of the Metzudat Ze’ev building and officers jostling violently with demonstrators who were banging drums and chanting slogans against the government.
One horseback police officer was filmed pinning a protester to the wall with his horse, and other officers were recorded forcibly pushing back protesters and shouting for them to be arrested, Ynet reported. Other major protests took place on Sunday evening in Jerusalem, Haifa, Beersheba and several smaller cities, with demonstrators blocking roads and highways, demanding that an end to the war be reached.
On next Saturday, August 23, at 4:30 pm, will be held another Arab-Jewish rally, “The March for Peace and Life” from Dizengoff Square to Habima Square in Central Tel-Aviv, calling for a deal to end the war and occupation, a deal with Hamas for the return of hostages, as well as a lasting peace agreement with the Palestinians. The demonstration is an initiative of the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel, a leading umbrella organization among Arab-Palestinian national minority in Israel and sponsored by Hadash and several peace groups including Partnership for Peace, Standing Together, Women Wage Peace, Peace Now, and Breaking the Silence, among others. According to the Gaza Health Ministry reported that 60 people were killed and 344 wounded by Israeli fire across the Gaza Strip on Monday. Twenty-seven of the dead and 281 of the wounded were aid seekers – people arriving at hospitals for humanitarian assistance such as food, medical care, or shelter. This raises the total number of aid seekers killed in Gaza since the start of the war to 1,965. The ministry also reported that since the Israeli attack began on October 7, 62,004 people have been killed and 156,230 injured in Gaza by Israeli fire.
Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=32939
