Protesters (anti-government, pro-hostage deal) Opposition of Israel The 2023-2025 Israeli hostage deal protests are a series of demonstrations,[1] instances of civil disorder,[2] and riots[3] against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government, primarily sparked by the Gaza war and the hostage crisis.

The protests began sporadically at the onset of the war but have grown significantly in size and intensity, culminating in massive gatherings across various Israeli cities.

[17] On 25 November 2023, approximately 100,000 people gathered at Hostage Square in Tel Aviv to mark "50 Days of Hell" since the Hamas-led attack on Israel.

[19] On 6 April 2024, during an anti-government rally in Tel Aviv, a driver deliberately accelerated into a crowd of protesters, injuring five.

On 20 July 2024, thousands of protesters rallied in Tel Aviv, demanding that Netanyahu stay in Israel to continue talks with Hamas in order to reach a hostage deal.

[25]On 21 July 2024, protesters blocked Ben Gurion Airport, ahead of Netanyahu's departure for a meeting in the United States,[26] and chanted: "No deal, no flight".

[28] On 17 August 2024, tens of thousands around Israel joined weekly anti-government protests, calling for a deal to release the hostages and the resignation of the government.

[30] On 24 August 2024, thousands of Israelis joined weekly anti-government protests, demanding a hostage deal and the resignation of the government.

On 1 September 2024, the trade union Histadrut announced a one-day general strike to be held on the following day in protest for refraining from reaching a prisoners deal with Hamas.

[41] Netanyahu's speech about the Philadelphi Corridor was met with mixed reactions from Israeli politicians and public opinion.

[45][46][47] Demonstrators gathered in front of the homes of the Ministers Israel Katz, Shlomo Karhi, Yoav Kish, Ron Dermer, and some others across the country.

[61][62] On 14 September 2024, 100,000 Israelis[15] protested in 67 locations across Israel, including Tel Aviv,[63] Haifa,[64] Jerusalem,[65] and Caesarea, next to Prime Minister Netanyahu's private residence.

[65][69] Israeli politician and a former member of the Knesset for the Labor Party, Ami Ayalon, said: "Non-violent civil disobedience is the order of the day, it's our duty".

[67] On 21 September 2024, tens of thousands of Israelis protested in 91 locations across Israel,[52] including Tel Aviv,[70] Haifa,[71] Jerusalem, Rehovot and HaOgen junction.

[71] Protesters accompanied chairman of Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, Yuli Edelstein, on the walk to his synagogue, a week after women were arrested for distributing hostage flyers there.

[73] The Hostages and Missing Families Forum announced that "only an unprecedented, widespread and powerful public struggle will bring them back".

[52][75] At the same time, a demonstration calling for the release of hostages was held in front of the Begin Gate at the Kirya in Tel Aviv.

[77] Protesters gathered beneath the hotel where Blinken was staying and held signs against Netanyahu and for a hostage deal.

[84][85][86] On December 27, 2024, protest movements called for civil disobedience across Israel, urging sit-ins, work strikes, and school boycotts.

[87] On December 28, 2024, tens of thousands of Israelis protested in 52 different locations across the country, urging the government to stop the war and agree to the hostage deal.

They protest every day at HaKirya (near the office of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces at the gate on Begin Road), demanding an immediate deal to release the hostages.

Kaplan Force (Hebrew: כוח קפלן) is a liberal umbrella organization based in Israel, that is carrying out demonstrations against Netanyahu's government.

[118] Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has largely remained defiant in the face of protests and strikes,[119] often ignoring them.

[121] Israel's Leader of the Opposition Yair Lapid supported the strike of the Histadrut and the September protests and accused the Netanyahu administration of leading the nation into "the greatest anarchy".

[122] In September 2024, US President Joe Biden said that Netanyahu needed to make more of an effort to secure a hostage deal and ceasefire with Hamas.