Thousands gathered across the country to protest for the release of hostages in Gaza and for the declaration of elections on Saturday night. In Tel Aviv, protesters blocked the Ayalon Highway and seven protesters were arrested.
Demonstrators gathered in Jerusalem and on Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv. Demonstrators also gathered in Haifa as well as other parts of the country.
Protesters carried posters of hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, calling for his immediate release. Earlier this week, a video was released by Hamas showing Hersh alive.
While at Begin Gate, Stav Arnon, from the women's protest for the return of the hostages, condemned the government for prioritizing the war over the release of their family members.
Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv filled with tens of thousands of protestors calling for elections now and the release of the hostages. (credit: @sha_b_p)
She especially called out Ministers Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, "The responsibility is in your hands. Get out of this damned government immediately! You normalize the abnormal. You said you were there to return the captives, but you didn't live up to your promise, the hostages are still there. The time has come - choose which side you are on."
Family members of hostages speak
At the demonstration, several family members of hostages currently held in Gaza spoke. Dani Miran, the father of Omri Miran, who was kidnapped in Gaza, said, "I thought he would have a beard because he has no way to shave. Since the kidnapping I have grown a beard, and on the day he returns we will shave together," Israeli media reported.
Meirav Gonen, mother of 23-year-old captive Romi Gonen, said at the demonstration, "Our beloved abductees are one people. They represent a diverse array of backgrounds. It is imperative for us to exhibit resolve and wisdom and utilize all available resources as a progressive and liberated nation to bring them home now. This embodies our national ethos of 'leaving no one behind' and underscores their pivotal role in our genuine resilience as a free and powerful country."
Earlier on Saturday, the Hostage and Missing Families Forum released a statement calling on the State of Israel to stop the war in exchange for a comprehensive deal for the hostages.
In their statement, they argued, "For half a year, we have been told that military pressure will lead to the release of the hostages. This strategy has failed. Today we are calling on all members of the government: If the only way to a comprehensive deal for the hostages is to end the war, end the war to bring the hostages home to us!" They then concluded that "entering Rafah will lead to the murder of more hostages" so Israel must choose not to enter Rafah to save the remaining captives held in Gaza.
