Anti-war protesters block major highways — again

Not all families of hostages agree with the tactic, saying it serves Hamas’ interests and distances a deal.

By Batya Jerenberg, World Israel News

Rush hour in Israel was extended Tuesday as protesters demanding an immediate hostage deal and an end to the war with Hamas blocked major highways in the early morning.

Starting at 6:30 a.m., thousands spread across major routes, including the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv, demanding that the government make any deal it can with Hamas. The terror group is still holding, according to the most recent estimates, 20 live captives and 30 bodies of the 251 kidnapped during their invasion and mass slaughter of Israelis and foreign nationals on Oct. 7, 2023.

They held signs and banners reading “We stop when everyone returns” and “Save the hostages, stop the war.”

Rows of burning tires blocked at least one highway as people banged drums and chanted against the government through megaphones.

One of the demonstrators in Tel Aviv was arrested. Police found a smoke grenade in her possession.

The Hostage Families Forum had called for the road blockages to mark 690 days since their loved ones were taken by the terrorists. They charged that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was “dragging his feet” and “thwarting deals,” in the words of one of the most prominent Forum leaders, Einav Zangauker, whose soldier son, Matan, is still believed to be alive in captivity, although badly wounded.

While the Forum called the Tuesday protest “Israel Stands Together,” not all families of hostages agree with the tactic.

Talik Gvili, the mother of Ran, a soldier whose body was taken in Gaza, told Ynet that she doesn’t “find any logic” in holding these protests.

“The ‘Day of Rage,’ or whatever it’s called, serves Hamas’ interests,” she said. “It raises the price of those kidnapped and pushes us further from a deal.”

This is the position taken by a smaller group of hostage families, the Tikva Forum, which argues that the only winning strategy is overwhelming military force in Gaza to make Hamas surrender, release the hostages, and deter future attacks.

By 9:30 a.m., police said that all the thoroughfares were clear and would remain so.

“Freedom of protest and expression is not the freedom to harm the freedom of movement of many people,” they said. “Blocking traffic routes without permission and in a manner that could endanger road users or harm the freedom of movement of numerous citizens will not be allowed.”

Still, reports came in over an hour later of demonstrators blocking Highways 5 and 6 at certain intersections.

The Hostage Families Forum has organized several mass protests and blockages in recent weeks and months — demanding the government make a deal with Hamas, even if it means withdrawing the IDF from all of Gaza and leaving the terrorist group in power.