Israelis burst into parliament, calls for action mount
Published: 04:01 PM,Jan 22,2024 | EDITED : 08:01 PM,Jan 22,2024
Protesters stand behind tents during a rally organised by family and supporters of Israeli captives held in Gaza. — AFP
TEL AVIV: A group of relatives of Israelis held captives in Gaza stormed a parliamentary committee session in Jerusalem on Monday, demanding that the lawmakers do more to try to free their loved ones.
The action by about 20 people signalled growing domestic dissent in the fourth month of the Gaza war.
One woman held up pictures of three family members who were among the 253 people seized in the cross-border rampage of October 7 that triggered the worst fighting in decades.
Some 130 remain in captivity after others were brought home in a November truce.
'Just one I'd like to get back alive, one out of three!' the woman protester cried after pushing into the Knesset Finance Committee discussion.
Other protesters held up signs reading: 'You will not sit here while they die there.'
'Release them now, now, now!' they chanted.
US, Qatari and Egyptian efforts to mediate another release seem far from reconciling Israel's drive to destroy Palestinian groups which demand that Israel withdraw and free all of the thousands of Palestinians from its prisons.
The fate of the captives — 27 of whom Israel says have died in Gaza — has riveted the country. But relatives fear that war fatigue could soften that focus. Demonstrations that initially promoted national unity have become more aggressive.
Families and supporters have also started camping outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coastal home as well as the Knesset building.
'We will not leave him until the captives are back,' said Eli Stivi, whose son Idan is being held in Gaza.
Regular weekend rallies demanding the captives be released have in recent weeks been reinforced by demonstrations calling for an election that might topple the hard-right government.
Anti-government protests that shook the nation in 2023 ceased after the October 7 attack. Political rifts were set aside as Israelis rallied behind the military and the families of those killed or taken.
But with the devastating war in Gaza in its fourth month and opinion polls showing lagging support for Netanyahu, calls for leadership changes are growing stronger.
On Saturday night, thousands protested in Tel Aviv, Haifa and Jerusalem, calling for an election. In Tel Aviv, some briefly blocked a highway.
In the Knesset on Monday, parliamentary ushers, often quick to eject hecklers or protesters, initially tried to block the families but then stood by during the ruckus in the Finance Committee. — Reuters
The action by about 20 people signalled growing domestic dissent in the fourth month of the Gaza war.
One woman held up pictures of three family members who were among the 253 people seized in the cross-border rampage of October 7 that triggered the worst fighting in decades.
Some 130 remain in captivity after others were brought home in a November truce.
'Just one I'd like to get back alive, one out of three!' the woman protester cried after pushing into the Knesset Finance Committee discussion.
Other protesters held up signs reading: 'You will not sit here while they die there.'
'Release them now, now, now!' they chanted.
US, Qatari and Egyptian efforts to mediate another release seem far from reconciling Israel's drive to destroy Palestinian groups which demand that Israel withdraw and free all of the thousands of Palestinians from its prisons.
The fate of the captives — 27 of whom Israel says have died in Gaza — has riveted the country. But relatives fear that war fatigue could soften that focus. Demonstrations that initially promoted national unity have become more aggressive.
Families and supporters have also started camping outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coastal home as well as the Knesset building.
'We will not leave him until the captives are back,' said Eli Stivi, whose son Idan is being held in Gaza.
Regular weekend rallies demanding the captives be released have in recent weeks been reinforced by demonstrations calling for an election that might topple the hard-right government.
Anti-government protests that shook the nation in 2023 ceased after the October 7 attack. Political rifts were set aside as Israelis rallied behind the military and the families of those killed or taken.
But with the devastating war in Gaza in its fourth month and opinion polls showing lagging support for Netanyahu, calls for leadership changes are growing stronger.
On Saturday night, thousands protested in Tel Aviv, Haifa and Jerusalem, calling for an election. In Tel Aviv, some briefly blocked a highway.
In the Knesset on Monday, parliamentary ushers, often quick to eject hecklers or protesters, initially tried to block the families but then stood by during the ruckus in the Finance Committee. — Reuters