These protests resulted in the closure of several major streets and intersections, amid tensions between demonstrators and police forces.
According to the official Israeli Broadcasting Authority, the events began under the slogan "Day of Protest," with demonstrators gathering in front of the US embassy in Tel Aviv since the morning, holding up pictures of prisoners. The movement expanded to include road closures, most notably the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv.
Channel 12 reported that protesters blocked the Daniel Interchange on Highways 1 and 6, which connect central Israel to Jerusalem. Beach Road near the town of Atlit, south of Haifa, was also blocked as part of pressure to end the war.
Social media platforms circulated videos showing police intervening to remove protesters from the roads, and in some cases using force.
Israeli police announced that they were balancing "freedom to demonstrate" with maintaining "public order," and reported reopening several temporarily closed roads, arresting a protester found in possession of a smoke bomb, and issuing traffic tickets.
In Tel Aviv, police confirmed that Ayalon Highway was subject to intermittent closures due to protesters they described as "disruptive." Begin Street was also closed, and police launched operations to clear the streets and reopen them to traffic.
The protests were called for by the families of the prisoners, who called for demonstrations extending throughout the day and concluding with a central march in Tel Aviv in the evening. This coincided with an upcoming meeting of the security cabinet, headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, to discuss developments in the negotiations regarding a ceasefire in Gaza, following Hamas' announcement of its acceptance of a proposal submitted by mediators on August 18.
Editor's Picks
The Gaza conference in Istanbul calls for the immediate opening of the Gaza Strip's crossings and the severing of ties with Israel.
Erdogan: Türkiye continues to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza and defends its cause internationally.
Dozens of Palestinians, including children, were killed in new Israeli massacres in Gaza, amid a worsening famine in the territory.
58 martyrs and tens of thousands of Palestinians displaced in the northern West Bank as a result of Israeli aggression for more than 200 days.
The Hebrew-language Walla news platform reported that hundreds of demonstrators gathered in front of the government headquarters in Jerusalem to coincide with the meeting, while a march of thousands of participants moved toward the same location.
At a press conference in Tel Aviv, the families of the prisoners sharply criticized Netanyahu, accusing him of obstructing an agreement. Itzik Horn, the father of one of the prisoners, said the plan to occupy Gaza, previously approved by the cabinet, was a "stab in the hearts of the families," given that a proposed agreement was already ready for signature.
These moves coincide with Hamas's announcement of its willingness to release Israeli prisoners in one batch if Israel agrees to end the war and withdraw its forces from Gaza, in addition to releasing Palestinian prisoners. However, Netanyahu, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, continues to raise new conditions, including the disarmament of Palestinian factions, and insists on continuing military operations and reoccupying the Strip.
Tel Aviv estimates there are 50 Israeli prisoners in Gaza, 20 of whom are still alive. Meanwhile, more than 10,800 Palestinians are languishing in its prisons, suffering torture, starvation, and medical neglect, many of whom have died, according to human rights reports.
With American support, Israel has been committing genocide in Gaza since October 7, 2023, including killing, starvation, destruction, and forced displacement, ignoring all international calls and orders from the International Court of Justice to halt it.
The genocide in Gaza left 62,819 Palestinians dead, 158,629 wounded, most of them children and women, more than 9,000 missing, hundreds of thousands displaced, and a famine that killed 303 Palestinians, including 117 children, as of Tuesday.
