Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday night, the largest demonstration against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government since October, when Hamas-led attacks on Israel sparked war.
Weekly demonstrations have been held in Tel Aviv demanding the government reach a cease-fire agreement to free the hostages held in Gaza since October. These protests have grown in scale as the war drags on and anger against Netanyahu's government grows.
The sound of whistles, horns and drums filled the air Saturday night, as the crowd chanted, according to video from The Associated Press. Demonstrators waved flags and held up photos of Israeli hostages holding placards that read “No hostage deal now.” Other banners revealed anger at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the hostages' plight, with one reading: “Replace him and save them.”
“We demand that the government sign the deal now, no matter the cost,” protester Lee Hoffman Agib told The Associated Press. Captivity. ”
As the night progressed, several scuffles broke out. Police said the demonstrations were largely peaceful, but that “several hundred protesters” violated public order by lighting bonfires, blocking highways and confronting police. Police said officers used water cannon to disperse some protesters from the highway and arrested 16 people.
