In Jerusalem, protesters gather outside Prime Minister Netanyahu's residence, voicing strong opposition to the ongoing Gaza conflict. Demonstrators criticize the war as a 'revenge war' and demand the release of hostages held by Hamas. The protests highlight the growing discontent with Netanyahu's policies, as families of hostages call for a negotiated solution.
Protests Erupt in Jerusalem Against Netanyahu's Gaza War Strategy
Protests Erupt in Jerusalem Against Netanyahu's Gaza War Strategy
Israelis protest against the Gaza war outside Netanyahu's residence in Jerusalem.
The atmosphere is tense on this mild September evening in central Jerusalem. People gather outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence on Gaza Street to voice their protests against the Gaza war.
Everyone believes the escalated offensive endangers the lives of Israeli hostages, and many also emphasize the suffering of the Palestinian civilian population. While no one sympathizes with the terrorist group Hamas, they point to their own government's responsibility.
'A Revenge War'
"We must stop the war. It is no longer a defensive war but a revenge war where our soldiers are forced to commit war crimes. Continued war risks the hostages' lives," says David Ziegler, 55, an education expert from Jerusalem.
"It is a war for the sake of war, for the settler sector that governs us. They see their chance to fulfill their messianic dream of expelling the Palestinians. This is not the Zionist dream I grew up with," he says.
He holds up a sign reading "Save the Hostages - Refuse War." Other signs say "Refuse to Conquer Gaza" and "The War is Me - Netanyahu I," while a large banner in the middle of the demonstration bears the message "Netanyahu Bombs the Hostage Agreement."
"Until they come home, we are all hostages of the blood government, the betrayal government," people chant in unison.
Hamas Holds 50 Hostages
Hamas still holds about 50 Israelis, both living and dead, as hostages nearly two years after the terrorists' massacres in Israeli border villages on October 7, 2023, which triggered the bloody Gaza war.
"I want our brothers in hostage back and an end to the war. And for us to become a normal country where my three children can grow up. A country that does not annihilate another people, a country for which life is an important value," says Arela Koter, 54, a marketer from Shoham.
"The war has no other goal than Netanyahu's political survival. It is my civic duty to fight for democracy. I do it by demonstrating," she says.
Now Israel is escalating the war with an offensive against Gaza City to eliminate what the political and military leadership calls Hamas's last stronghold. Many in Israel are strongly critical of the escalation, not least high-ranking officers who would rather see an agreement to free the hostages.
The hostages' families demonstrate almost daily for Netanyahu to prioritize a negotiated solution that can free their relatives. According to opinion polls, this has the support of a majority of the people.
Protests at Netanyahu's Home
The largest protests take place in a square in Tel Aviv, but now they shift focus to the Prime Minister's home in an apartment building on Gaza Street 35 in one of Jerusalem's finer neighborhoods.
The street or road has historically borne this name for centuries as it runs southwest towards Gaza. Just like other main streets in the city have been named after Jaffa, Nablus, Bethlehem, and Hebron.
Police stop them a few blocks from Netanyahu's residence. It is unclear if the Prime Minister is there. He also has a villa in Caesarea on the Mediterranean coast—which was hit by a Hezbollah rocket from Lebanon last year—and is also sometimes reported to spend his nights in a villa with a nuclear shelter provided by a billionaire. The official residence in Jerusalem, however, has been under renovation for several years.
"We protest against the war, against the murder of innocents, and for the release of the hostages. The war is killing us all, we are a whole country in post-trauma. We demonstrate often, but not often enough," says Shai Amiram, 25, a social worker who is present with his partner Noa Kopelo, 25, a graphic designer, both from Jerusalem.
Camping on the Street
Some demonstrators plan for a long-term protest and will camp on the street. Among them is Ori Segelis, 18, a waitress from Rehovot.
"I am here to support the hostages' families and will stay as long as needed. I work at a café, but the owners are left-wing supporters, so they let me take time off for this. Fortunately," she says.
The protest on Gaza Street started on Tuesday. Later, on Wednesday night, police stopped demonstrators who came too close to Netanyahu's apartment.
Several relatives of the hostages were previously on the street and condemned the Israeli government's actions in strong terms—expressing the desperation they feel.
Sharp Criticism
"Yesterday, Netanyahu ordered the bombing of my child. He knows that Matan is in immediate danger due to the Gaza offensive, but still decided to bomb him to death. He is the one who decides whether Matan lives or dies. Netanyahu will not end this war until the people of Israel rise up," said Anat Angrast, mother of Matan Angrast, 21, whom Hamas holds as a hostage.
Einav Zangauker, another high-profile relative of a hostage, mother of Matan Zangauker, 32, and a sharp Netanyahu critic, said:
"Netanyahu uses my Matan as his human shield. He refuses the agreement that has been on the table for more than a year because this indictment would put an end to his rule. That is why Matan and the others in hostage are still there. Our children are sacrificed on Netanyahu's altar."