Over the weekend, massive demonstrations took place in various cities across Israel, with protesters calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government to prioritize the safe return of hostages held in Gaza. In Tel Aviv, crowds gathered outside the Israel Defense Forces’ headquarters, causing traffic disruptions and voicing their discontent with the government.
Eran Nissan, a prominent peace activist from the group Mehazkim, has been actively participating in anti-government protests for over a year. During the recent rally, Nissan distributed T-shirts and stickers bearing critical messages about Israel’s security minister, Itamar Ben Gvir. The primary demand of the protesters was a ceasefire-for-hostages agreement, with Nissan emphasizing the urgency of resolving the hostage situation.
Nissan highlighted the successful hostage exchange that occurred last November, where 105 hostages were brought back to Israel. However, there are still 101 individuals believed to be held captive in Gaza, with concerns that some may have lost their lives while in captivity.
Expressing skepticism about the government's intentions, Nissan suggested that prolonging the conflict could be a strategy to avoid accountability for recent security failures. He speculated that ending the war would lead to inquiries and potential calls for new elections, which could pose a significant challenge for the current administration.
The demonstrations on Saturday marked a significant moment in Israeli activism, as they defied a government ban on large gatherings imposed after security threats following an Iranian missile attack on October 1. The missile strike was reportedly in retaliation for the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, further escalating tensions in the region.
