Thousands of protesters took to the streets in the Israeli cities of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Caesarea, Raanana, and Herzliya on Saturday, demanding the release of all hostages held in Gaza and for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be removed from office.
Demonstrations held at Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv also called for a general election to be held immediately. A video from the rally shows police officers attempting to push protesters at the Begin Gate, one of the entry gates to the Kirya military headquarters in the city.
One banner at the rally read, 'No one leaves! We will march to Jerusalem and remain there until the government disbands.'
In a separate rally held at Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, survivors of Hamas captivity urged Israeli authorities to immediately bring home all the hostages still held in Gaza.
Freed hostage Aviva Siegel, whose husband Keith Siegel remains in Gaza, called on Israeli authorities to 'take responsibility' and put more effort into releasing her spouse and other hostages held by Hamas and other militant groups in the strip. During her speech at the rally, Siegel emotionally expressed, 'I ask you — the chief of staff, the prime minister, the defense minister — I'm dying here; do you understand that? We are dying inside here!'
Many supporters of the hostage rally continued to march through the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday night.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum announced that the gathering will be relocated next week to Jerusalem in front of the Knesset, Israel's parliament.
