Israel, strike and protests by hostages’ families

Demonstrations in Tel Aviv and London to demand an end to the war and the release of Hamas prisoners

The families of hostages, fallen soldiers, and victims of the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks have called for a general strike in Israel next Sunday. The mobilization, they explain, is to demand an end to the war and protest against the government’s plan to occupy Gaza City. “Next Sunday, we will take a break to say: enough, stop the war, return the hostages. It’s in your hands,” said Reut Recht-Edri, mother of Ido Edri, who was killed by Hamas at the Nova festival, at a press conference in Tel Aviv.

Protests also in London
In the afternoon, a “National March for the Hostages” is planned in London, organized by Stop the Hate UK and various Jewish organizations. The demonstration, which will end in front of Downing Street, will call on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to prioritize the release of prisoners before recognizing the Palestinian state. Among the participants will be Noga Guttman, cousin of 24-year-old Evyatar David — seen in a recent video filmed in a Gaza tunnel in very serious condition — and the family members of Avinatan Or, kidnapped at the Nova festival along with his girlfriend Noa Argamani.

Political tensions in the Israeli government
On the domestic front, pressure from far-right ministers is growing. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich reportedly threatened to bring down the government and lead the country to early elections after the decision to launch a new offensive to occupy Gaza City. Smotrich said he had “lost confidence” in the prime minister’s ability to achieve a “decisive victory.” National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir called for ‘immediate’ measures to “bring down the PNA” and called for “the conquest of all of Gaza, the transfer of the population, and colonization.”

Situation in the West Bank and Gaza
Defense Minister Israel Katz announced that Israeli forces will remain in the refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarem, and Nur Shams at least until the end of the year, calling them “hotbeds of terrorism” supported by Iran. Meanwhile, in the Gaza Strip, the local Ministry of Health reports five more victims of starvation in the last 24 hours, including two children. Since the beginning of the conflict, 217 civilians, including 100 minors, are reported to have died of starvation.

According to the IDF, more than 1,310 aid trucks, mostly carrying food, have entered Gaza in the last week. However, the United Nations estimates that at least 500-600 trucks per day are needed to assist the more than two million inhabitants of the Strip, and it is unclear how much of the aid actually reaches the population.

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(Photo: © AndKronos)