In Israel, hostage families call on the population to mobilize to stop the Netanyahu War in Gaza – Liberation

How many citizens in the streets of Israel will it be necessary to make Benyamin Netanyahu give up his war? Furthermore, The families of hostages retained by Hamas in Gaza. Therefore, as well as those of Israeli soldiers who have fallen since October 7, called for a general strike day this Sunday, August 17. For example, They categorically oppose the plan for the extension of TSAhal military operations in the Palestinian enclave. Therefore, wanted by the Prime Minister and validated by his war cabinet on August 7.

“Extending war in the heart of Gaza is not a strategy. Meanwhile, it is a cruel bet on the life of our soldiers and that of the hostages, denounced Eyal Eshel, father of a soldier killed on October 7, 2023. In addition, Instead of sacrificing more israel, hostage families call population lives. Furthermore, we demand the return of hostages within the framework of an agreement, the creation of a national commission of inquiry on the debacle of October 7 and the beginning of the reconstruction of the State of Israel, before it is too late. Moreover, “

Against the advice of his chief of staff. Nevertheless, which he threatened with dismissal; Against the advice of the international community, which has condemned almost unanimously (except the United States) its offensive plan; Against the opinion, now, of his own public opinion, Benyamin Netanyahu persists in continuing his war in Gaza, terribly deadly for Palestinian civilians. Moreover, So far, the Prime Minister has remained deaf to any form of pressure – internal and external.

To make it bend. “We need something big”, warns the editorialist of Haaretz Yossi Melman: “Hundreds of thousands, even a million people, israel, hostage families call population should converge on Jerusalem, surround government institutions – Knesset, the government complex, the Supreme Court – and stay there, estimates the Israeli journalist. Not only for a few hours before dispersing to have a coffee. but as long as necessary: a week or more. ” Nearly 200 protest actions were planned this Sunday. including rallies before the homes of ministers or deputies of the power coalition; A demonstration at midday on Kaplan Street, in Tel-Aviv, which had already been the scene of the big days of protest against the judicial reform, in 2023; Then a walk in the evening to Place des Otages.

The head of the Israeli opposition, Yaïr Lapid, supports the movement. “Store on Sunday”. he launched on his X account, adding himself to “Even to those who support the government” by Benyamin Netanyahu. “It is not a question of quarrel or politics. […] israel, hostage families call population It was the families who asked for it and that’s a sufficient reason ”, he added. The association of the Israel Bar also calls for a strike. “We call on the Israeli government to listen to the Chief of the Israeli Army Staff [qui s’est opposé publiquement au plan de Nétanyahou à Gaza. ndlr], The voices of all the heads of the security services and those of the people, to act for the release of the hostages and to conclude an agreement to release them now, before it is too late ”, said the president of the Association of Lawyers, Amit becher.

Among the 251 hostages captured during the unprecedented attack in Hamas in Israel. on October 7, 2023, 49 remain detained in Gaza, of which 27 are dead, according to TSAhal. In twenty-two months of war. reprisals of the Israeli army left at least 61,827 israel, hostage families call population people dead in the Palestinian enclave, the vast majority of civilians, according to data from the Ministry of Hamas, deemed reliable by the United Nations and NGOs on site.

Dozens of Israeli communities and large companies, including the Tech sector, have announced that they are joining the movement. But the main union center, the powerful Histadrout, refused to participate. “If I thought that a strike would end the war. I will support it fully, ARNON Bar-David was justified on Monday on Monday. My heart overflows with anger, but that will not help. ” Now without the histadrout, the prospect of a general strike able to paralyze the whole country seems difficult to achieve. The union center has decided “Do not stop the economy at this stage”. But asks companies to let the workers participate in “Solidarity manifestations” That day, without penalizing them.

In March 2023. when the Central Union had joined the vast protest movement against the Netanyahu legal reform, the Israeli Prime Minister had a time suspended-one of the rare reculades of the one who spent seventeen as head of government (including twelve consecutive), a record in Israel. This Sunday. his opponents dream of converging for the first time in the street two components of Israeli society, which in part overlap: the mass of “Democrats” who had risen in 2023 to defend the rule of law, and the crowd of the Israelis in solidarity with families of captives, who believe that the Netanyahu War in Gaza is now in the military, and Hamas and Islamic jihad.

According to polls. these Israelis favorable at the end of the war and an agreement with Hamas allowing the release of hostages are now the majority within the Hebrew State. israel, hostage families call population However. these same opinion studies indicate that the coalition which allows the government of the far right to maintain itself in power is still also supported by its voters. In other words, although impopular, Benyamin Netanyahu does not feel politically in danger. The mobilization of this Sunday aims to prove it the opposite.