Israeli leftists launched a general strike across the country early Sunday morning against the government’s plan to continue to fight Hamas in Gaza and not capitulate to the terror group’s demands to continue ruling Gaza and its plan to carry out another October 7-style massacre in Israel.
In moves very similar to the pre-October 7 protests against the Netanyahu government and the judicial reform plan, protesters gathered in Hostages Square in Tel Aviv and later blocked major roads, including the Ayalon, Highway 1, Highway 6, and Highway 4.
Protesters rioted and used smoke grenades on Highway 16 at the exit from Jerusalem and on Begin Boulevard north in Jerusalem and clashed with officers. The police eventually dispersed the protesters using a water cannon.
The police stated that “on Highway 16, a police officer repeatedly announced to the protesters that they were disrupting public order and ordered them to clear their route. After they failed to comply, the police, together with Border Police officers, worked to push back the rioters and even had to use force to restore order to the scene.”
Several relatives of hostages and numerous bereaved relatives, along with soldiers injured in Gaza, have spoken out against the protest, which was organized by left-wing groups, including the Hostages and Missing Persons Families Forum.
Many politicians also slammed the protest as playing into enemy hands.
Finance Bezalel Smotrich published a post on X in which he wrote, “The people of Israel are waking up this morning to a harmful campaign that plays into the hands of Hamas, buries the hostages in the tunnels, and tries to get the State of Israel to surrender to its enemies.”
Finance Committee chairman Chanoch Milvitzky (Likud) wrote, “Pro-Hamas riots have begun. Jews, Israelis who are burning the country in an attempt to prevent the destruction of Hamas. There have already been such people in our nation throughout history—we overcame them, and so it will be this time as well.”
Like the pre-October 7 protests, many groups, institutions, and businesses joined the strike, including the Medical Association, local authorities, universities, the high-tech headquarters, and the Manufacturers Association.
Protests are scheduled to take place at junctions throughout the country. During the day, the main protest is taking place at Hostages Square until 8 p.m., when a mass protest is scheduled outside the Kirya IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv.
(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
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One Response
“against the government’s plan to continue to fight Hamas in Gaza…” just an excuse to protest against Bibi and the right wing government using public emotions – these protests have triggered Oct 7, these protests harden Hamas stance in the ceasefire negotiations!