Thousands protest across Israel after hostages found dead in Gaza

Tens of thousands of people have taken to the streets across Israel in response to the discovery of six hostages' bodies held by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The bodies were recovered by Israeli soldiers in an underground tunnel in the Rafah area of southern Gaza, sparking national outrage and leading to mass protests in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and other cities, Caliber.Az reports, citing British media.

The protests, largely peaceful, saw demonstrators—many draped in Israeli flags—accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government of not doing enough to secure the release of the remaining hostages taken by Hamas during the attacks on October 7. The protests intensified in Tel Aviv, where crowds broke through police lines, blocking a major highway, Ayalon Highway, late on Sunday.

Protesters expressed their anger by scaling buses and trash bins to get a vantage point over the march, chanting slogans like “Alive, alive, we want them alive,” and holding signs that read, “You are the head. You are to blame.” The demonstrators also chanted, “Policemen, policemen who are you protecting?” and “Shame, shame,” while some set fires on the road and draped yellow ribbons—a symbol of solidarity with the hostages.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported that the six bodies found were of hostages Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, and Master Sergeant Ori Danino. The IDF stated that these hostages were killed shortly before their troops reached them on Saturday. The discovery and subsequent announcements triggered Sunday's protests, with the crowds accusing the government, and Prime Minister Netanyahu personally, of failing to secure the safe return of the remaining hostages.

Amid the protests, Naama Lazimi, a Labor Party lawmaker, reported being lightly injured after falling down when police released stun grenades. She described the protests as “significant and important” but questioned what would happen next.

Eli Shtivi, a protester whose son Idan is still being held hostage in Gaza, told the BBC, “We hope that those who make the decisions will wake up. We don’t have time anymore.”

The diverse mix of protesters, including a group of young scouts leading chants, reflected a united front from all strands of Israeli society, demanding action from their government. In Jerusalem, a large crowd gathered outside the prime minister's office, underscoring the widespread public discontent.

The protests also coincided with a call from Histadrut, a major Israeli labor union, for a nationwide general strike on Monday to press for a hostage deal. This call for a strike amplifies the pressure on Netanyahu’s government to act decisively to secure the release of the remaining hostages and address public grievances.