Tel Aviv, July 2025 — Tel Aviv has become the epicenter of growing unrest as thousands of Israelis poured into the streets this week, demanding an end to the war in Gaza and the safe return of hostages. What began as family-led vigils has escalated into mass protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reflecting widespread frustration with his handling of the conflict.
Dramatic footage shows Israeli police dragging away demonstrators who had blocked major intersections. Many protesters waved Israeli flags and carried signs with the names of hostages still held in Gaza. Despite police orders to disperse, the crowds remained defiant. Authorities quickly declared the gatherings illegal and deployed riot units to suppress them.
The crackdown was swift and forceful. Protesters—including elderly citizens and relatives of hostages—were forcibly removed from roads. Several were injured in scuffles with police and government supporters. In one incident, a 74-year-old man was hospitalized after being struck by a motorcyclist trying to breach the blockade.
At the heart of the protests is a sense of betrayal. Many Israelis believe Netanyahu is deliberately delaying a ceasefire and hostage release for political gain. “He doesn’t care about the hostages,” one protester yelled through a megaphone. “This government only cares about its own survival.”
Public sentiment has shifted dramatically in recent months. Polls show a majority of Israelis now favor a ceasefire that includes a hostage deal—even if it means halting the military campaign in Gaza. Critics argue that Netanyahu’s refusal to agree to such terms is driven by pressure from far-right members of his fragile coalition.
What started as a small movement has grown into a national reckoning. Protesters are now calling not only for a hostage deal, but for Netanyahu to step down. Many see the war as a tool of political distraction from the country’s deepening economic and social crises.
Night after night, Tel Aviv's Rabin Square and surrounding streets fill with demonstrators demanding answers, justice, and change. With no breakthrough in sight and emotions running high, the protest wave shows no sign of fading.
If Netanyahu believed the public would tire and quiet down, this week’s scenes tell a different story. The voices on the streets are only growing louder—and they’re demanding a new path forward.
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