Tens of thousands of Israelis across the country protested on Saturday evening, December 7, against the far-right government and for a cease-fire deal that would release the hostages held in Gaza, shortly after Hamas released a video of hostage Matan Zangauker, son of Einav Zangauker, the most prominent of the hostages’ relatives fighting for a deal.
Three adjacent rallies were held in Tel Aviv as anti-government groups reclaimed Democracy Square, at the intersection of Begin Road and Kaplan Street, which saw weekly mass demonstrations against the judicial overhaul throughout 2023. The protests on Democracy Square were put on hold due to restrictions on public gatherings amid the escalation against Hezbollah in September. The restrictions were lifted after a ceasefire was reached in Lebanon last month.
Under a large banner reading “Crime Minister” next to a picture of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, protesters chanted: “There is no forgiveness for the enemy of the state! There is no forgiveness for the angel of death!”
A block north, thousands of people among the Hadash MK Ofer Cassif, joined anti-government hostage families as they held their weekly protests outside the army headquarters Begin Road entrance, bolstered by left-wing and peace groups including Hadash, Breaking the Silence and Looking the Occupation in the Eyes.
In addition, anti-government protesters returned to Tel Aviv’s Kaplan Street despite the police opposition. Police had informed the organizers on Thursday that the protest at Democracy Square was not approved, since “too few people had showed up there the previous week in order to justify closing the junction.” However, thousands of protesters defied the ban and eight “rioters” at an “illegal demonstration in Tel Aviv” were reportedly arrested by cops. “Protesters broke through police barriers, blocked Begin Road northbound and attempted to get onto Ayalon Road,” the police added.
Earlier on Saturday, Hamas published a short video of Matan Zangauker, 24, entitled “Time is running out.” In the video, Zangauker introduces himself and tells the camera that he has been in captivity for over 420 days. He then sends a message to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “I heard about your new plan to return us home. I heard that you will give $5 million to whoever returns us safely home and provide them with a safe exit from the Gaza Strip. I am very disappointed. Now I am certain that you do not know your enemies and you do not understand their mentality. This is your failure and the failure of the government since October 7.”
Zangauker added that “we die a thousand times every day, and no one feels for us. The people of Israel do not neglect us. We are still alive. We want to return before we go crazy. Isolation is killing us, and the darkness here is frightening. It is illogical that we pay the price for the government’s mistakes, and it is time to put an end to our suffering.” In an interview with Kan public broadcaster, his mother Einav Zangauker, said “It took me a while to understand that it was just a video and Matan cannot hear me. It’s hard to hear Matan say, Mum, don’t abandon us. The hostages will only return if there is a comprehensive deal and if the war ends.”
Other rallies were held in Jerusalem, Haifa, Beer Sheva, Rishon LeZion, Herzliya, Netanya, Zikhron Yaacov, Karkur Junction, Gomeh Junction at northern Galilee, Shaar HaNegev Junction, Kiryat Gat and other localities.
