The massive turnout came after the discovery of six hostages, who were reported to have been murdered in Gaza. The Hostage Families Forum, in collaboration with Israel’s largest labor union, organized the demonstrations across several cities.
Reports indicate this is the largest protest since the conflict began 11 months ago. In Tel Aviv, demonstrators marched with coffins to honor the slain hostages and staged fires on a major motorway, causing significant disruptions.
The protests erupted following the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF) announcement that the bodies of Carmel Gat, 40, Eden Yerushalmi, 24, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, 23, Alexander Lobanov, 33, Almog Sarusi, 27, and Ori Danino, 25, had been recovered from a tunnel in southern Gaza on Saturday. Post-mortem examinations revealed that the hostages were shot at close range and had been killed on Thursday or Friday.
IDF Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani reported that the bodies were found several meters underground amid ongoing combat, though there was no direct firefight in the tunnel itself.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Hamas for the murders, stating that they had acted in “cold blood” and would be held accountable. He accused Hamas of undermining ceasefire efforts and suggested that those who kill hostages are not interested in a deal.
In response, Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq blamed Israel and the U.S. for the deaths, arguing that the hostages would have survived if Israel had accepted a ceasefire proposal offered by Hamas in July.
Protesters have criticized Netanyahu for allegedly prioritizing his political future over the hostages’ lives and for imposing terms on potential ceasefire agreements that Hamas would never accept.
Demonstrations also occurred outside Netanyahu’s office in Jerusalem, where protesters covered their eyes with yellow fabric and ignited red flares.
