Daijiworld Media Network - Jerusalem
Jerusalem, Aug 18: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has strongly criticised protesters demanding an end to the Gaza war, accusing them of strengthening Hamas and delaying the release of hostages.
“Those calling today for an end to the war without the defeat of Hamas not only harden Hamas' position and draw out the release of our hostages, but also ensure that the horrors of October 7 will reoccur,” Netanyahu told a Cabinet meeting on Sunday.
Thousands demonstrated across Israel, with Tel Aviv as the epicentre of protests demanding a ceasefire and a hostage deal. Protesters blocked key roads, including the Tel Aviv–Jerusalem highway, while a giant Israeli flag bearing portraits of captives was displayed at Hostage Square.
Protest organisers and the main campaign group representing hostage families also called a general strike, leading to the closure of several businesses. Police used water cannon and arrested over two dozen protesters for “disruption of order.”
Far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich condemned the demonstrations, saying pressure to secure a deal “buries the hostages in tunnels and pushes Israel to surrender to its enemies.”
The protests come after Israel’s security cabinet approved plans to seize Gaza City as part of its nearly 22-month-long offensive. The war began after Hamas-led militants launched the October 7, 2023 attack, killing around 1,200 people and abducting 251.
According to the Israeli military, 49 hostages remain in Gaza, 27 of whom are confirmed dead.