Families of Israeli prisoners lead mass protests amid ongoing war
3 Min Read
Families of Israeli prisoners in Gaza launched a nationwide strike with protests in over 300 locations, blocking highways and rallying outside ministers’ homes to demand the captives’ return.
-
Israeli settlers block a road during a protest demanding the immediate release of captives held in Gaza and calling for the Israeli government to reverse its decision to take over Gaza City and other areas in the Gaza Strip, near occupied al-Quds, occupied Palestine, on August 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)
Families of Israeli prisoners held by the resistance in the Gaza Strip launched a strike across the occupied territories on Sunday, part of widespread demonstrations against the government where protesters demanded the immediate return of the captives and an end to the ongoing war on Gaza.
Demonstrations took place in more than 300 locations across the occupied Palestinian territories, with thousands of Israeli forces deployed to manage the protests, Maariv reported.
Israeli settlers blocked the road between occupied al-Quds and Tel Aviv with burning tires, protesting Netanyahu’s war policy and demanding a prisoner exchange deal.
— Palestine Highlights (@PalHighlight) August 17, 2025
Follow: https://t.co/v6VYZYiuxb pic.twitter.com/Y61jiWBPFw
Dozens of settlers gathered outside the homes of several government ministers, including Intelligence Minister Gila Gamliel, and Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf, according to Haaretz. The protesters accused the government of neglecting the captives’ fate and voiced anger at the continuation of the war in Gaza.
Kan TV reported that hundreds of settlers blocked the northern Ayalon Highway near Tel Aviv, disrupting traffic as they demanded stronger action to secure the release of captives and prevent them from being "sacrificed" by the Netanyahu government.
⭕ Protests have been reported in more than 300 locations in occupied Palestine, with settlers demanding the Netanyahu to agree to a deal to release the captives. pic.twitter.com/Ne8D0t55nU
— Southern Africa Eye (@eye_southern) August 17, 2025
The demonstrations, fueled by frustration with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the war, mark one of the largest public displays of opposition since the war.
Knesset member Gadi Eisenkot voiced his support for the families, calling on the wider public to join the protests. "Time is up for Netanyahu and the continuation of the war," Eisenkot said, according to Channel 7.
The strike and mass protests underscore growing political and social divisions within "Israel" as the war in Gaza continues, with families of captives demanding an end to the fighting to secure their relatives’ safe return.
Israeli captives' families call to cripple economy
Last week, advocacy groups representing the families of captives and killed soldiers had announced that the strike would be held today, amid a protest against the ongoing war and the government’s proposed plan to occupy Gaza City.
On August 10, Anat Angrest, the mother of Matan Angrest, who remains in Hamas captivity, strongly criticized the decision to seize control of the densely populated city, arguing that such a move would put the lives of those still held captive at greater risk. "The government decided to occupy the Gaza Strip, to send soldiers to come closer to Matan. They are trying to bring him back, but in practice are endangering him," she added.
She expressed fear that the newly approved plan to take over Gaza City, which had been passed on Thursday night, could result in her son's death.
The general strike already received backing from leading figures in the opposition, such as Opposition Leader Yair Lapid, who posted on social media that the demand from the captives' families to halt economic activity was both reasonable and commendable, while pledging ongoing solidarity with their cause.
