Israel: Protesters go on strike demanding ceasefire and launch of Gaza hostages

[ad_1] JERUSALEM (AP) — Protesters in Israel demanding a hostage deal escalated their marketing campaign Sunday with a one-day nationwide strike that blocked roads and closed companies, as police blasted crowds with water cannons and made dozens of arrests.

The “day of stoppage” was organized by two teams representing a few of the households of hostages and bereaved households, weeks after militant teams launched videos of hostages and Israel announced plans for a new offensive .

Protesters, who worry additional combating may endanger the 50 hostages believed to stay in Gaza, solely about 20 of whom are considered alive, chanted: “We don’t win a warfare over the our bodies of hostages.”

Protesters gathered at dozens of factors all through Israel, together with exterior politicians’ properties, army headquarters and on main highways, the place they have been sprayed with water cannons as they blocked lanes and lit bonfires that cloaked roads in smoke. Some eating places and theaters have been closed in solidarity.

Police mentioned that they had arrested 32 as a part of the nationwide demonstration — one of many fiercest because the uproar over six hostages discovered lifeless in Gaza final September.

“Army strain doesn’t carry hostages again — it solely kills them,” former hostage Arbel Yehoud mentioned at an illustration in Tel Aviv’s hostage sq.. “The one approach to carry them again is thru a deal, all of sudden, with out video games.”

Netanyahu’s allies oppose any deal that leaves Hamas in energy “Right now, we cease every little thing to save lots of and produce again the hostages and troopers. Right now, we cease every little thing to recollect the supreme worth of the sanctity of life,” mentioned Anat Angrest, mom of hostage Matan Angrest. “Right now, we cease every little thing to affix fingers — proper, left, heart and every little thing in between.”

Demonstrators block a highway throughout a protest demanding the instant launch of hostages held by Hamas and calling for the Israeli authorities to reverse its choice to take over Gaza Metropolis and different areas within the Gaza Strip, close to Jerusalem, Israel, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. (AP Photograph/Ohad Zwigenberg)

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Protesters at freeway intersections handed out yellow ribbons, the image that represents the hostages, the Hostages and Lacking Households Discussion board, which organized the stoppage, mentioned.

Regardless that Israel’s largest labor union, Histadrut, in the end didn't be part of Sunday’s motion, strikes of this magnitude are comparatively uncommon in Israel. Many companies and municipalities determined independently to strike.

Nonetheless, an finish to the battle doesn't seem close to. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has demanded the instant launch of the hostages however is balancing competing pressures, haunted by the potential for mutiny inside his coalition.

Far-right members of his cupboard insist they gained’t help any deal that enables Hamas to retain energy. The final time Israel agreed to a ceasefire that launched hostages, they threatened to topple Netanyahu’s authorities.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich on Sunday referred to as the stoppage “a foul and dangerous marketing campaign that performs into Hamas’ fingers, buries the hostages within the tunnels and makes an attempt to get Israel to give up to its enemies and jeopardize its safety and future.”

Nationwide Safety Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir in a press release accused protesters of attempting to “weaken Israel.” Like Smotrich he mentioned the strike “strengthens Hamas and delays the return of the hostages.”

‘No different possibility’ Hospitals and eyewitnesses in Gaza reported no less than 17 aid-seekers had been killed by Israeli forces on Sunday, together with 9 awaiting assist vehicles near the Morag hall.

Hamza Asfour mentioned he was simply north of the hall awaiting a convoy, when Israeli snipers fired, first to disperse the crowds, then from tanks a whole bunch of meters (yards) away.

He noticed two folks with gunshot wounds — one within the chest and different within the shoulder.

“It’s both to take this danger or wait and see my household die of hunger,” he mentioned. “There is no such thing as a different possibility.”

The Gaza Humanitarian Basis, which runs the distribution factors, mentioned there was no gunfire Sunday “at or close to” its websites, which sit on the finish of assist truck routes.

Individuals participate in a protest demanding the top of the warfare, the instant launch of hostages held by Hamas within the Gaza Strip, and in opposition to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s authorities in Tel Aviv, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025. (AP Photograph/Mahmoud Illean)

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Israel’s army didn't instantly reply to questions on strikes within the three areas.

Israel’s air and floor warfare has already killed tens of hundreds of individuals in Gaza and displaced many of the inhabitants. The United Nations is warning that levels of starvation and malnutrition in Gaza are at their highest because the warfare started.

The Hamas-led assault in 2023 killed round 1,200 folks in Israel. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed 61,897 folks in Gaza, in line with the Well being Ministry, which doesn't specify what number of have been fighters or civilians however says round half have been girls and youngsters.

On Sunday, two youngsters died of malnutrition associated causes in Gaza, bringing the full during the last 24 hours to seven, in line with the ministry, which is a part of the Hamas-run authorities and staffed by medical professionals. The U.N. and unbiased specialists contemplate it probably the most dependable supply on casualties. Israel disputes its figures however has not supplied its personal.

Assist circulate far under what is required Whereas demonstrators in Israel demanded a ceasefire, Israel started making ready for an invasion of Gaza Metropolis and different populated components of the besieged strip, aimed toward destroying Hamas.

The army physique that coordinates its humanitarian assist to Gaza mentioned Sunday that the provision of tents to the territory would resume. COGAT mentioned it could enable the United Nations to renew importing tents and shelter tools into Gaza forward of plans to forcibly evacuate folks from fight zones “for his or her safety.”

Nearly all of help has been blocked from getting into Gaza since Israel imposed a complete blockade in March after a ceasefire collapsed when Israel restarted its offensive. Deliveries have since partially resumed, although assist organizations say the circulate is much under what is required. Some have accused Israel of “weaponizing assist” via blockades and guidelines they are saying flip humanitarian help right into a instrument of its political and army targets.

Airstrike on energy plant in Yemen Israeli airstrikes hit Yemen’s capital Sunday, escalating strikes on Iran-backed Houthis , who because the warfare started have fired missiles at Israel and focused ships within the Purple Sea.

Each the IDF and a Houthi-run tv station in Yemen introduced the strikes. Al-Masirah Tv mentioned they focused an influence plant within the southern district of Sanhan, sparking a hearth and knocking it out of service, the Yemeni station mentioned. Israel’s army mentioned Sunday’s strikes focused power infrastructure it claimed was being utilized by the Houthis, and have been launched in response to missiles and drones aimed toward Israel.

Whereas some projectiles have breached its missile defenses — notably throughout its 12-day war with Iran in June — Israel has intercepted the overwhelming majority of missiles launched from Yemen.

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Melzer reported from Nahariya, Israel and Magdy from Cairo.

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Observe AP’s warfare protection at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

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