Hundreds of activists, among them several Hadash and Communist Party of Israel members, gathered on Saturday evening, March 14, in Tel-Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa, against the imperialist war in Iran and Lebanon. At Habima Square in Central Tel-Aviv, about 200 people demonstrated against the war, including Hadash MKs Ofer Cassif and Ayman Odeh. Protesters chanted slogans, “You cannot build democracy on the bodies of schoolgirls” and “Pilots, stop the bombings.” The demonstration comes after similar protests were dispersed in recent weeks and several protesters were arrested.
“Stop the War,” “Hadash Against the War,” and “Fight Imperialism,” signs at the demonstration at Habima Square in Tel-Aviv, Saturday, March 14, 2026 (Photo: Zo Haderekh)
During the protest in Tel-Aviv, cops detained an anti-war protester after he attempted to prevent fascist agitator Roi Star from chasing a demonstrator. Star harassed protesters and came closer, repeatedly telling one woman, “Say ‘Well done to the IDF’ and I’ll leave you alone.” According to Zo Haderekh, the right-wing provocator eventually chased the woman, asking if she was “afraid of him.” An activist attempted to intervene by standing between Star and the woman, keeping his hands in his pockets. Police detained the man for questioning before releasing him later in the evening. Star and friends recently made headlines by filming himself and other fascists harassing human rights activists in Israel and the occupied West Bank.
In recent weeks, police have repeatedly acted to restrict protests against the war. Officers violently dispersed a demonstration, arrested a protester, and subjected him to an unlawful strip search. Past Saturday in Habima Square, dozens again gathered for a lawful protest that did not require a permit, against the war with Iran. Shortly after it began, counter-protesters violently attacked demonstrators and police did not intervene. Instead, they declared the protest “illegal,” dispersed the demonstrators by force, and confiscated signs. According to Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI), “When police shut down a protest because of violence by opponents, they grant a violent veto over freedom of expression. War cannot be used to dissent silence.”
ACRI has appealed to the Attorney General and the Police Commissioner, demanding clear instructions for the police: protect demonstrators and stop suppressing lawful protests – even in wartime.
Related: https://maki.org.il/en/?p=33273
