Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Widespread protests swept across Israel on Tuesday morning as demonstrators blocked major highways and intersections, demanding the government reach an agreement to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza and bring an end to the nearly year-long war with the Palestinian enclave.
The protests, described by organizers as a nationwide “Day of Protest,” were spearheaded by families of the hostages, many of whom have been held in Gaza since the outbreak of the conflict in October 2023. Demonstrators shut down sections of Highway 1 and Highway 6, two of Israel’s busiest thoroughfares along with numerous other roads, including parts of the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv.
Chanting slogans and holding aloft photographs of their loved ones, the protesters called on the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to finalize a deal with Palestinian factions that would secure the return of the hostages, even if it meant halting the military offensive.
Tensions escalated throughout the morning as crowds gathered in front of the homes of key government ministers, including Education Minister Yoav Kisch in Hod HaSharon, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar in Ness Ziona, and Economy Minister Nir Barkat. Outside Barkat’s residence, demonstrators chained together dozens of posters bearing the images of the hostages, blocking pedestrian access to the building.
Near the U.S. diplomatic mission in Tel Aviv, demonstrators pleaded for American pressure to push Israel’s leadership toward a deal. The U.S. has played a significant role in mediating between the parties throughout the conflict.
Video footage circulating on social media showed Israeli police forcibly removing demonstrators from blocked roads, at times using physical means to clear intersections. According to an official statement, police said they were “deployed to ensure the right to protest while maintaining public order.” Authorities confirmed the arrest of at least one protester who was found carrying a smoke bomb, and noted that several traffic violations were recorded.
The timing of the demonstrations was carefully chosen to coincide with a key meeting of Israel’s security cabinet, set to discuss the latest diplomatic developments. According to Israeli media, the meeting follows a recent proposal, reportedly accepted by Hamas, for a ceasefire agreement brokered by international mediators.
An Israeli official, speaking to the daily Israel Hayom on condition of anonymity, revealed that Tel Aviv is now considering a comprehensive deal that would include the full return of hostages and a formal end to military operations in Gaza. The official added that Strategic Affairs Minister Ron Dermer is currently working on a multi-layered proposal, with American backing, that also includes broader regional negotiations involving Lebanon and Syria.
As the war nears its one-year mark, Israeli public opinion has become increasingly fractured. While some continue to support a hardline approach toward Hamas, many others, especially the families of the captives, are urging an immediate end to hostilities to bring their loved ones home.
“The government must act now,” said one protester outside the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv. “Every day that passes puts the hostages at greater risk. This is not just about politics, this is about human lives.”
Whether the growing domestic pressure will influence the outcome of the security cabinet meeting remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that a significant segment of Israeli society is no longer willing to accept the status quo.
