Massive protests erupted across Israel on Sunday following the deaths of six hostages in Gaza, sparking widespread anger and frustration over the government’s failure to secure a ceasefire deal that would ensure the release of Israeli captives. Demonstrations swept through major cities including Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, with crowds estimated by Israeli media to be as large as 500,000. Protesters demanded that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu take decisive action to bring home the remaining 101 hostages, roughly a third of whom Israeli officials believe have died.
In Jerusalem, demonstrators blocked streets and gathered outside the prime minister’s residence, while in Tel Aviv, aerial footage revealed the main highway filled with protesters holding flags adorned with images of the slain hostages. Police deployed water cannons against demonstrators who blocked roads, and local media reported 29 arrests as tensions escalated.
Labour leaders have called for a one-day general strike on Monday in solidarity with the protests. Arnon Bar-David, head of Israel’s trades union federation, announced the strike to pressure the government into signing a deal for the release of the hostages. He noted that Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s main air transport hub, would be closed starting at 8 a.m. (0500 GMT).
The Israeli military announced the recovery of the bodies of six hostages from a tunnel in the southern Gaza city of Rafah. A forensic examination concluded that Carmel Gat, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Ori Danino were “murdered by Hamas terrorists in a number of shots at close range” within the past 48 to 72 hours, according to a spokesperson from the Israeli health ministry.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, who has been under increasing pressure to negotiate a ceasefire and secure the release of the remaining hostages, vowed that Israel would not rest until those responsible for the killings were brought to justice. “Whoever murders hostages does not want a deal,” Netanyahu stated, underscoring the government’s stance against Hamas.
In response, senior Hamas officials blamed Israel’s refusal to sign a ceasefire agreement for the deaths of the hostages. Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, accused Netanyahu of being responsible for the deaths, stating, “The Israelis should choose between Netanyahu and the deal.”
The conflict, which began on October 7 when Hamas and other militants launched attacks on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages, has since seen a severe escalation. Israel’s ongoing offensive has resulted in significant destruction across Gaza, where the health ministry reports that at least 40,738 Palestinians have been killed. The humanitarian situation remains dire, with many displaced persons facing inadequate shelter and food shortages.
Amid the rising public anger, U.S. President Joe Biden expressed devastation and outrage over the deaths of the hostages, including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin. “Hamas leaders will pay for these crimes. And we will keep working around the clock for a deal to secure the release of the remaining hostages,” Biden said, also voicing optimism about the potential for a ceasefire agreement.
Negotiations mediated by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt have so far failed to secure a deal, despite heightened U.S. pressure and repeated visits by top officials to the region. The chief Hamas negotiator, Khalil Al-Hayya, reaffirmed on Sunday that the group would not sign any agreement unless Israel fully withdrew from Gaza Strip, including the contentious Philadelphi and Netzarim corridors.
Meanwhile, a brief pause in hostilities has been agreed upon to allow for a critical polio vaccination campaign in Gaza. Israeli and Hamas forces have agreed to pause fighting in specific areas of Gaza for eight hours daily from Sunday to Tuesday, during which 640,000 children are expected to be vaccinated against polio. This campaign follows the first confirmed case of polio in the territory in 25 years.
As the situation remains tense, calls for decisive action and negotiations continue to grow, with many urging an end to the violence and the safe return of all hostages.
