Hundreds of thousands of protesters in Israel have taken to the streets demanding an end to the war in Gaza and a deal to free captives held in the besieged enclave, as the military intensifies attacks on Gaza City to force tens of thousands of starving Palestinians to flee again,
Al Jazeera reports.
Israeli police made dozens of arrests and used water cannons on protesters who gathered Sunday for the nationwide demonstration with organisers reporting nearly half a million people turning out to protest in Tel Aviv by nightfall – one of the largest and fiercest since the war begin nearly two years ago.
Israeli schools, businesses and public transport have been shut down, with demonstrations held in major cities as part of a national day of action by two groups representing a number of the families of captives and bereaved families.
Restaurants and cafes also closed, while Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that dozens of Israeli artists, celebrities, and athletes voiced support and joined the strike.
Major unions, including lawyers, doctors, and the business forum, as well as the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, also confirmed their participation in the strike.
Protesters, who fear further fighting could endanger the 50 captives believed to remain in Gaza, only about 20 of whom are thought to be alive, chanted: “We don’t win a war over the bodies of hostages.”
“Military pressure doesn’t bring hostages back – it only kills them,” former captive Arbel Yehoud said at a demonstration in Tel Aviv’s so-called “Hostage Square”. “The only way to bring them back is through a deal, all at once, without games.”
