In an escalation of public unrest, Israeli protesters clashed with police in Tel Aviv on Sunday evening, demanding a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas.
The demonstrations, which saw hundreds of thousands of Israelis taking to the streets, were met with a heavy-handed response from law enforcement.
According to Yedioth Ahronoth, the Israeli police deployed water cannons and sound grenades to disperse the large crowd in Tel Aviv, resulting in several minor injuries and at least 20 arrests for inciting violence.
The protests were triggered by recent developments in Gaza and the Israeli government’s handling of the hostage situation.
Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli Defense Forces announced the discovery of six Israeli hostages’ bodies in a tunnel in Rafah, southern Gaza. This revelation intensified public outrage against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration.
The discovery of these bodies led to widespread protests across Israel, with organizers estimating that around 770,000 people participated nationwide, including approximately 550,000 in Tel Aviv alone.
In Jerusalem, the situation was similarly tense as Israeli police arrested five protesters for disrupting traffic and inciting violence.
The protests were fueled by the announcement of these deaths, with demonstrators calling for a swift prisoner exchange with Palestinian factions in Gaza.
The unrest follows a series of grim updates on the status of Israeli hostages. Previously, Israeli officials claimed that 101 hostages were still held by Hamas, including several who were believed to be deceased.
Hamas has claimed that many of these hostages were killed in recent Israeli airstrikes targeting Gaza during the ongoing conflict, now extending into its 11th month.
As the crisis continues, unions have announced a nationwide strike scheduled for Monday, adding to the mounting pressure on the Israeli government.
The situation remains fluid, with ongoing demonstrations and heightened tensions across the country.
