Israel March Together protest march from Re'im to Jerusalem in March 2024
On 7 October 2023, Hamas mounted an attack on Israel, abducting an estimated 251 people from the country, as well as killing 1,180 more. Since then, protests have been held in the country demanding the return of the hostages from Gaza.[2] The first protest was held on 14 October 2023, in Tel Aviv criticizing the handling of the war by the Israeli government.[5][6] Continued perceived inaction by the Israeli government on the issue caused additional rallies, and international rallies were held to mark the six-month anniversary and call for the return of hostages.[7]
On 1 September 2024, the Israel Defense Forces stated that six hostages taken by Hamas, including Hersh Goldberg-Polin, had been found dead in a tunnel underneath Rafah. A forensic examination by the Israel Ministry of Health determined that the hostages had been shot several days prior. Hamas accused Israel of failing to reach a ceasefire agreement, allowing the hostages to be killed.[8] Hamas claimed that the hostages were killed due to Israeli air strikes.[9]
Shortly after the announcement about the deaths multiple large protests broke out across Israel. Many protestors pointed out their concern that the hostages had survived 11 months in captivity, and that three of the six deceased recovered had been on list of releasable hostages under rejected hostage deals.[10]
Thousands of people in Jerusalem protested outside of the Prime Minister's Office while a cabinet meeting was scheduled, blowing whistles and trumpets while demanding for a ceasefire deal.[16] Streets were also blocked.[17][18] Israeli Police used skunk against hundreds of people who had gathered outside of the city's main entrance.[19] Thousands of protesters with coffins veiled in the Israeli flag demonstrated outside of Netanyahu's residence in central Jerusalem, chanting "Deal. Now". Several protesters were arrested following clashes that broke out after the coffins were taken by police.[3][20]
Haifa
Protests in Haifa, September 1, 2024
Two people were arrested at a September 1, 2024, demonstration in Haifa for lighting torches, and two people were injured at a September 7, 2024, demonstration in Haifa after police threw them over barbed wire.[21][22]
International
Demonstrators gathered outside the Washington, D.C. residence of Israeli ambassador to the United States Michael Herzog to seek an end to the war.[23]
Strike
Histadrut, Israel's largest trade union, announced a one-day strike for 2 September.[1]
The strike ended sooner than originally planned due to labor court ruling against it.
Government response
According to CNN, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is "worried" about the protests.[24] On 2 September, Netanyahu issued a rare apology directed at the families of the six deceased hostages, but continued that he would not stop the use of military force in the Philadelphi Corridor. He also claimed to be working continuously in an effort to bring the remaining hostages back to Israel, but that if Israel caved now it would send a message that Hamas would just need to kill remaining hostages for leverage.[25]
On 2 September, while speaking with reporters US President Joe Biden blamed both Netanyahu and Hamas for the absence of a hostage deal before a meeting with members of his negotiating team.[25]
^Najjar, Farah; Mohamed, Edna (2024-09-06). "Hamas releases video of killed American-Israeli captive". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-09-06. Senior Hamas official Izzat al-Risheq said at the time the six captives were killed in Israeli air strikes. The Israeli military says they were shot dead.
