33 Israelis arrested in massive protests calling for prisoner exchange

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
9 Jun 2024 10:02

From the North to the South, "Israel" witnesses massive anti-government protests.

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Israeli police disperse a protester against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government during a call for the release of captives held in the Gaza Strip, in Tel Aviv, on Saturday, June 8, 2024. (AP)

Israeli settlers staged Saturday evening massive protests in Tel Aviv and several other cities calling for new elections and the return of captives held by the Palestinian Resistance in Gaza, just hours after the military announced that four captives were retrieved during an operation from Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, The Times of Israel reported.

Although the protesters hailed the announcement, they directed their anger toward Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet.

In Tel Aviv, police reported the arrest of 33 protesters and confirmed that all roads near the protest sites were reopened to traffic around midnight.

BREAKING:

Thousands of Israelis took to the streets of Tel Aviv again to demand an agreement with Hamas and the resignation of Netanyahu. pic.twitter.com/1MOK8Y18h7
— Globe Eye News (@GlobeEyeNews) June 8, 2024

At the main anti-government demonstration in Tel Aviv, former Israeli intelligence chief Amos Malka described the Nuseirat operation as "an incredible operational success in a sea of strategic failures."

Malka lambasted Netanyahu for rushing to meet and photograph with the retrieved captives while neglecting the families of those who were killed in captivity in earlier weeks.

"We’re losing everything, crops are being burnt, tourism is collapsing, the small businesses that are still operating are collapsing, and worst of all, our communities are collapsing," said one Israeli settler from a settlement in northern occupied Palestine, as quoted by The Times of Israel.

According to the Israeli news website, several pro-government demonstrators attempted to infiltrate the crowd but were "rebuffed".

As the main demonstration concluded, protesters dispersed to join a nearby protest supporting a prisoner exchange deal.

At a rally outside Herzliya city hall, anti-government protest leader Nava Rozolyo thanked Israeli Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, and the Israeli occupation forces for retrieving the captives.

She then criticized War Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz for canceling a planned press conference in which he was expected to announce his resignation from the government.

Rozolyo urged the settlers to take to the streets, warning that if they don't, "disaster will follow disaster," and the government "will destroy the Zionist dream and all we accomplished in the last 76 years."

Several family members of the captives expressed concern that the latest operation could worsen conditions for the remaining captives, emphasizing the urgent need for a prisoner exchange deal.

On Saturday, Abu Obeida, the military spokesperson for Hamas' al-Qassam Brigades, confirmed that the Israeli occupation forces retrieved some of its captives "but killed a few others in the process."

He stressed that the operation "will pose a grave danger to the enemy's captives, and will negatively impact their circumstances and lives."

In occupied al-Quds, protesters displayed pictures of killed captives over the central stage, with one organizer saying, "They were alive, and because of the government and this failure of a cabinet they are not here, and not alive."

Hundreds of protesters also blocked the intersection outside Netanyahu's residence, chanting slogans in support of a prisoner exchange deal and against the ongoing war on Gaza.

"We don’t want more killings, this is the time for agreements!" they shouted.

In the northern occupied city of Haifa, thousands marched. Also in the North, protesters blocked traffic at main intersections, voicing their opposition to the government’s policy regarding Hezbollah's ongoing attacks, which have resulted in the evacuation of tens of thousands of settlers for eight months.

At Amiad Junction, protesters and evacuated settlers blocked traffic with bales of hay, demanding to know when they could return to their settlements.