Outraged families of captured Israelis launch protests in 'Tel Aviv'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen
14 Oct 2023 15:14

The protesting families of Israelis captured by the Resistance vow that their movements have just begun.

Israeli soldiers being taken captive by al-Qassam Resistance fighters after infiltrating their military barracks as part of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on October 7, 2023 (Screengrab from al-Qassam footage)

Family members of several Israelis captured by the Palestinian Resistance during Operation Al-Aqsa Flood held an angry protest outside the Israeli Security Ministry in "Tel Aviv" on Saturday and blocked "Kaplan Street".

The protesters expressed outrage at the performance of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, asking, "Where is the army? Where is Netanyahu's son, is he in Miami?," referring to the reason he was not on the frontlines with their captured family members.

Demonstrators further warned the Prime Minister that the current movement is just the beginning.

الإحباط الإسرائيلي من جراء معركة "#طوفان_الأقصى" يتواصل، وعدد من أهالي الأسرى الإسرائيليين في #غزة يقيمون وقفة احتجاجية أمام مقرّ وزارة "أمن" الاحتلال في "تل أبيب". pic.twitter.com/KBaFnddhWu
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) October 14, 2023

A wave of growing anger and frustration has spread among settlers residing in the Gaza Envelope settlements and the families of Israeli captives.

The latest data released by the entity revealed that the number of Israelis killed in Operation Al-Aqsa Flood operation has increased to around 1,500 while those injured have exceeded 3,200. Meanwhile, the Israeli occupation army informed on Friday 265 families of their killed members, while 120 families were told that they were held captive.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog was not spared from being held responsible by settlers either. Israeli media reported on Thursday that, addressing Herzog, captive family members warned that if their sons and daughters are not returned, they "will shake Israel to its core if necessary," emphasizing that they "will not accept leaving them in Gaza."

Moreover, settlers of the Gaza Envelope are pleading for help while trying to take shelter in their settlement apartments amid the ongoing barrages of rockets launched by the Resistance in Gaza and continuing infiltration operations.

Israeli media quoted earlier this week one of the injured Israelis questioning, "Where is the Israeli army, where is the damn big air force, where is the government, where is Netanyahu, and where is the Chief of Staff? You are worth nothing and your words mean nothing."

In this context, Israeli journalist Amir Tibon confirmed that the settlers in "Sderot and Ashkelon were left to their fate, as the government likes."

Israeli ministers are also under increasing pressure from the settlers who are living in a state of panic and anxiety due to the ongoing Resistance operation.

A few days ago, Yedioth Ahronoth reported that ministers from Netanyahu's ruling Likud party visiting injured Israeli settlers in hospitals were attacked and cursed while being accused of "destroying Israel".

Thousands of settlers signed a petition demanding the government to work on concluding a prisoner exchange deal that leads to the return of Israelis from Gaza and the release of Palestinian prisoners in return.

صحيفة "يديعوت أحرونوت" عرضت مشاهد لمستوطنين يتهجمون على وزراء بحكومة الاحتلال ويطردونهم: "لقد دمرتم إسرائيل"!!#طوفان_الأقصى #الثورة_الكبرى #الميادين pic.twitter.com/l3SKpac0tb
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) October 11, 2023