Mass protests have occurred across Israel, with demonstrators calling for the return of Israeli captives held in Gaza, the dismissal of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s government, and an end to the war in Gaza.
Several thousand supporters, friends and relatives of Israeli captives taken by Hamas on October 7 demonstrated in Tel Aviv’s “Hostage Square” on Saturday, Al Jazeera reporters on the ground said.
“This is unprecedented because, during the beginning of this war, everyone agreed, including the anti-government protesters, that they needed to be united at a time when there is war, at a time when captives are still being held in Gaza. said Al Jazeera’s Sara Khairat, reporting from Tel Aviv.
The turnout of people in the square was much larger than in recent weeks, when between a few dozen and a few hundred people gathered. “Now, a few thousand people [are] gathered here,” said our correspondent.
Protesters shouted, “Bushah bushah, bushah,” meaning “shame, shame, shame” in reference to the government, and some also blamed Netanyahu and other officials for the events of October 7.
“This just gives you an idea of how angry some of these people are,” Khairat said.
In Jerusalem, people gathered outside the home of Israeli President Isaac Herzog to demonstrate and demand the return of the more than 100 captives still held in Gaza.
