Overview

• Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in Tel Aviv’s “Hostages Square” and blocked major highways nationwide in a general strike organized by the Forum of the Families of the Hostages.
• Israeli police cleared roadblocks and detained at least 25 protesters according to official figures, while Tel Aviv media reported up to 32 arrests.
• Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and far-right ministers Itamar Ben Gvir, Bezalel Smotrich and Miri Regev accused the strike of strengthening Hamas and hindering military objectives.
• President Isaac Herzog met families of captives in Tel Aviv and pledged that the state is doing everything possible to bring hostages home.
• Despite the domestic unrest, Israeli air raids continued in Gaza, including an early-morning strike on Al Ahli hospital in Gaza City that reportedly killed at least seven civilians.