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SvennoJ on 01 September 2024
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Relatives of killed captive refuse Netanyahu condolence call

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he spoke to the family of Alexander Lobanov, whose body was among the six recovered from Gaza, apologising and expressing “deep sorrow” over his death.

But the family of another captive, Carmel Gat, said they refused to speak to Netanyahu, and instead called on Israelis to join protests demanding a deal to release the remaining captives.

“We have no interest in talking to whoever murdered Carmel or being a prop in his media circus. We will not allow him to use us as justification and legitimisation for the murder of the next abductee. The blood of the kidnapped is on his hands,” Gat’s cousin, Gil Dickmann, wrote on X.


Israelis block main Tel Aviv highway to demand Gaza ceasefire


Israeli activists and media outlets have shared footage verified by Al Jazeera documenting protesters blocking Ayalon highway – a main artery in Tel Aviv – to pressure the Netanyahu government to accept a truce deal.

Israeli media also confirmed demonstrators blocked the main Ayalon road heading north.

In one of the videos, police can be seen spraying protesters with foul-smelling “skunk” water to break up the demonstration.


‘Stop the war,’ says Peace Now

Israeli activist group Peace Now has said on X “the people have had enough with this bloody government” as it reposted an image of tens of thousands of Israelis demonstrating in Tel Aviv for a ceasefire in Gaza.

“Stop the war. Hostage deal now,” the group said.


Estimates say 500,000 Israeli protesters on the streets

Hundreds of thousands of Israelis are out on the streets of Tel Aviv and elsewhere demanding a captive exchange deal as anger rises after the deaths of six more abductees in Gaza.

“This is certainly different from what we’ve been seeing over the past few months when demonstrations started after the war began,” reports Al Jazeera’s Hamdah Salhut. “This is perhaps the largest demonstration. Crowd estimates are around 280,000 in Tel Aviv alone.”

She said that throughout Israel, the number of protesters on the streets is estimated at 500,000.