Thousands of protesters filled the streets of Tel Aviv on Tuesday night following the dismissal of Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, urging his successor, Israel Katz, to prioritise efforts to secure the release of hostages still held in Gaza.
The demonstrators, waving Israeli flags and chanting slogans against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, gathered in the city’s commercial hub shortly after the firing was announced. Protesters also blocked traffic and set fires along the Ayalon highway, some wearing t-shirts with the slogan “Bring them home now!” in reference to the hostages.
One protester wore handcuffs and a mask bearing Netanyahu’s face, while others held signs reading, “We deserve better leaders” and “Leaving no one behind!”. Some protesters blamed Netanyahu for the failure to prevent the October 7 Hamas attack last year, chanting, “Bibi traitor! You’re guilty.”
Following Gallant’s dismissal, Foreign Minister Israel Katz assumed the role of Defence Minister. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a group advocating for the release of captives, expressed deep concern over the decision and urged Katz to focus on negotiating a deal for their release. Gallant himself had called for the urgent return of hostages, emphasising the need to act swiftly while they were still alive.
Among the protesters was Einav Tzangauker, whose son Matan remains among the 97 hostages still held in Gaza. Tzangauker criticised Netanyahu’s leadership, claiming, “Netanyahu is intentionally endangering Israel’s security… because of a dispute between him and Gallant on how to continue the war.”
Since the October 7 attack, which resulted in the deaths of over 1,200 Israelis, the ongoing war has led to the deaths of thousands in Gaza. While the Israeli military reports that 34 hostages have been confirmed dead, the focus of the protests remains firmly on securing the return of those still held in Gaza.