Mass Rally in Tel Aviv: Protesters Accuse Government of Waging a Pointless War

On the evening of the 17th, demonstrators gathered in Tel Aviv, Israel, calling for an end to the Gaza war and the release of hostages. This was one of the largest demonstrations in Israel since the outbreak of the war in October 2023.

According to AFP, in order to pressure the government to stop the war, Israel launched a nationwide strike, and the evening rally brought this nationwide protest movement to a climax.

Large crowds chanted slogans such as “Bring them all back home, stop the war.”

The protest-initiating "Hostages and Missing Families Forum" estimated that about 500,000 people participated, though the police have not confirmed this number.

The backbone of the protest movement, Einav, the mother of hostage Zagok, said: “We are demanding a comprehensive and achievable agreement, as well as an end to the war. We demand those children that rightfully belong to us.”

“A just war has been turned into a pointless war by the Israeli government.”

The "Hostages and Missing Families Forum" vowed that the protesters would “bring the country to a halt,” with the goal of bringing back the hostages and ending the war.

Protesters blocked major traffic arteries, burned tires, and clashed with police in many parts of the country. Law enforcement agencies reported that over 30 protesters had been arrested.