Tens of thousands rally in Tel Aviv to demand hostage deal, denounce government

Tens of thousands of anti-government protesters demonstrated in Tel Aviv on Saturday, calling on the government to advance a deal to release hostages held by terrorists in Gaza since October 7, and for the dismissal of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and early elections.

Attendees of Saturday’s protest said that it was the largest since Hamas’s October 7 massacre, with protest organizers estimating that some 120,000 demonstrators attended the Tel Aviv rally.

Similar demonstrations were held at numerous locations around the country.

In Democracy Square after the end of the official rally, protesters continued chanting for the release of hostages. Some activists lit a bonfire on the square, and videos posted to social media showed skirmishes between police and protesters.

According to the Haaretz daily, two protesters were arrested, and police used a sound cannon to disperse protesters.

The Ynet news site reported that police brought a water cannon to the event but that it was not used. READ MORE