One day national strike in Israel, shout for hostage deal, ending Gaza war
18-Aug-2025.
Several thousands of people on August 17 gathered in Israel to call for an end to the Gaza war and a deal to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Large crowd gathered at Tel Aviv's "Hostages Square", with the organisers calling to halt government's plans to seize control of Gaza City as it may risk the lives of nearly 20 hostages held hostage by Hamas.
The one-day national strike led to wider protests, closed roads, offices and universities in some areas. Almost 40 people were arrested during the day.
Meanwhile Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticised the protests, saying they would "harden Hamas's stance" and would only slow down the release of the hostages.
Far-right Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich also denounced the protests, describing them as a "harmful campaign that plays into the hands of Hamas".
Riot police violently broke up a protest outside the headquarters of the prime minister's Likud party in Tel Aviv City. The clashes in the city followed what was thought to have been the largest rally in 22 months of war. Smaller protests took place across Israel.
The national strike was demanded by the families of hostages and others opposed to the expansion of the war.
The mother of one of the hostages Matan, Einav Zangauker and a leading figure in the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, said the group demanded "a comprehensive and achievable agreement and an end to the war".
"We demand what is rightfully ours - our children," she told the crowd in Tel Aviv. "The Israeli government has transformed a just war into a pointless war." She was speaking after a video was released of her son.
She said, "My heart burns with longing. My whole heart is scorched because of my Matan. Matan, I, an entire nation, we are doing everything we can for you, for all the hostages".
The protests came a week after Israel's war cabinet voted to occupy Gaza City, the territory's largest city, and displace its population, in a move condemned by the UN Security Council.
