Thousands of protesters gathered across Tel Aviv on Saturday night to demand the return of hostages held by Hamas and demonstrate against the government, according to Israeli media.
Protests were held in various parts of the city. The group gathered in Hostage Square outside the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and blocked several streets, including Kaplan Interchange and Biggin Road.
As demonstrators marched through the city, police blocked roads leading to Ayalon Expressway to prevent protesters from blocking it.
During the protest, demonstrators screened the film “One Request,” which calls on government leaders to take action to return those detained by Hamas for nearly 200 days. Demonstrators also called for immediate elections in the country.
The parents of Itai Chen, an American-Israeli Israeli Defense Force soldier who was killed on October 7 and whose body is in Hamas custody, have called on the government to immediately approve the hostage deal. Reflecting on his son's death, they said, “The country did not protect you, it did not save you. It abandons you every day.”
hostages' families write letters
In addition, the families of the hostages wrote to the security minister, saying: “We demand to hear directly from you: More than six months after the start of the war, what are the Israeli government's priorities? ?” he wrote. We no longer feel military pressure. What are you doing to bring them back? ”
The letter also called on government leaders to set up formal talks with the families of the hostages. They criticized the fact that “months have passed without an official meeting.”
Further protests erupted across the country calling for elections and the release of hostages. Opposition leader MK Yair Lapid spoke at a protest in Haifa.
“This government is a disaster. We need elections now for the sake of the hostages and soldiers.”
