Thousands of protesters took to the streets of the center of Tel Aviv on Saturday (16.08.2025) to demand the end of the war in the Gaza Strip and an agreement to free the hostages retained by Hamas, an organization considered terrorist by the European Union, Israel and other countries.
To the protest, convened by the Hostage Family members forum, other mobilizations were added in Haifa, Jerusalem and Beersheva, as a prelude to an organized national strike for Sunday.
“Tomorrow we will paralyze the country,” said Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is one of the 20 hostages that are still alive in the Gaza Strip held by Hamas.
“And we will not stop tomorrow, we will not wait for (Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu ending the war, we will take what is legitimately ours,” he added.
According to the Jewish calendar, Sunday is the first working day of the week in Israel.
The families of the hostages convened the strike to protest against the decision of the Israeli government to expand the war in Gaza with a new offensive, instead of signing an agreement to return to the kidnapped, according to the Times of Israel.
Israel estimates that Hamas retains the bodies of another 30 kidnapped in the Gaza Strip, in addition to living hostages.
Netanyahu urged the security cabinet to decide to take the city of Gaza and the refugee neighborhoods in the center of the strip by military force.
Israel’s military offensive in Gaza began in response to the terrorist attacks launched on October 7, 2023 by Hamas in Israeli territory.
National Strike “Israel in Pause”
The families of the hostages held in Gaza called the Smeage to “stop everyday life” and demand from the Netanyahu government an agreement that allows its release.
The mobilization, baptized as “Israel in Pause”, will begin at 07:00 local time (04:00 GMT) with concentrations in road crossings and will last throughout the day with marches, prayers and acts throughout the country.
Attention will focus especially on Tel Aviv, where about one million people are expected to meet in the Plaza de los Haranes, epicenter of protests from the beginning of the war.
At 20:00 (17:00 GMT) a great demonstration is scheduled against the headquarters of the Israeli army in Tel Aviv.
Unemployment has broad social support. Several universities – among them the Hebrew of Jerusalem, the Haifa Technion and the Open of Israel – announced that they will allow their staff and students to join the protests, while around 75 local authorities, including the mayor of Tel Aviv, Ron Huldai, have expressed their support.
The protest will be added, according to local media, several technological companies in the country – among them Wix, HoneyBook and Fireblocks – and the Israel lawyers association.
GS (DPA, AP, EFE)
