Israel-Israeli Protests Surge After Deaths of Hostages; Calls for Ceasefire Grow Louder. On Sunday, Israel was rocked by massive protests following the tragic death of six hostages in Gaza. The demonstrations, which saw up to 500,000 people take to the streets in cities like Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, were driven by growing frustration over the government’s failure to secure a ceasefire and the release of remaining Israeli captives.
In Jerusalem, protesters blocked streets and gathered outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence. Tel Aviv’s main highway was overwhelmed with demonstrators holding flags bearing the faces of the deceased hostages. Israeli police responded by using water cannons and made 29 arrests.
Israel Agrees to US-Backed Ceasefire Plan, Hamas Yet to Respond
The Israeli military recovered the bodies of Carmel Gat, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Ori Danino from a tunnel in Rafah, Gaza. Forensic analysis indicated that these hostages were killed by Hamas militants in close-range shootings within the past few days.
Netanyahu, facing mounting pressure to end nearly 11 months of conflict with a ceasefire and secure the release of the remaining 101 hostages, vowed to hold those responsible for the murders accountable. He stated, “Whoever murders hostages – does not want a deal.”
Hamas officials, however, blamed Israel for the hostages’ deaths, asserting that the failure to agree to a ceasefire was the cause. They demanded that Israel choose between Netanyahu and a ceasefire agreement.
Collective Punishments and Land Grab: Israel’s Escalating Aggression in West Bank
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas and other militants killed about 1,200 people and captured around 250 hostages in attacks on Israel. Since then, Israel’s military operations have devastated Gaza, where the health ministry reports over 40,000 Palestinian deaths and severe humanitarian conditions.
In response to the escalating public outcry, Arnon Bar-David, head of Israel’s trade union federation, called for a general strike on Monday, including a closure of Ben Gurion Airport. Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and opposition leader Yair Lapid also urged for a ceasefire agreement.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich attempted to prevent the strike by requesting a prohibition from the attorney general. The Hostage Families Forum criticized Netanyahu, blaming delays in the ceasefire deal for the deaths of the hostages.
Harris Pledges Tougher Stance on Migration and Supports Continued Arms Aid to Israel
U.S. President Joe Biden condemned the killing of hostages, including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, and promised that Hamas leaders would be held accountable. He expressed continued hope for a ceasefire deal, despite ongoing negotiations involving the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt that have yet to yield results.
Amidst the conflict, a polio vaccination campaign began in Gaza to address a recent outbreak. Over 72,000 children were vaccinated on the first day of the campaign, which aims to protect 640,000 children from polio. Despite this, fighting continues, with recent airstrikes and battles resulting in additional casualties.
Follow us on our social media platforms here: Twitter WHATSAPP CHANNEL FACEBOOK PAGE
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.