Israeli citizens will take to the streets Thursday evening at dozens of locations across the country amid a Cabinet meeting on continuing the Gaza war.
Protest organizations announced they will demonstrate at 7:00 p.m., stating that the government lacks "a mandate to expand the war and sacrifice the hostages and soldiers. The IDF and senior security officials determine that the war must end, the chief of staff warns that continuation will endanger the lives of the hostages, an absolute majority of Israeli citizens wants to end the war and begin reconstruction, but an extremist minority government insists on dragging us to a security disaster and knowingly sentences the hostages and soldiers to death."
Major protest sites Thursday evening include Herzliya (at the square - Yehuda Hanasi/Raziel), Karkur Junction, Masmieh Junction, Hod Hasharon - outside Education Minister Yoav Kisch's home, Rosh Haayin - outside Transport Minister Miri Regev's home, Kfar Saba - outside Interior Minister Moshe Arbel's home, Haifa (Book Square), Yanai Interchange, Hurfeish Elkosh Square, Beit Hashita (at the road junction), Hagoma Junction, Yesod Hamaaleh Junction, Rosh Pina Junction, Beit Raban Bridge, Tzemach Junction and in Tel Aviv (precise location to be announced later).
Einav Zangauker, mother of hostage Matan, called on the public to demonstrate Thursday evening in Jerusalem outside the Cabinet meeting, saying, "This is a fateful evening for the life of our country." She added, "I gave the agreement a chance in recent weeks, Netanyahu promised me he would bring a deal that would return everyone. But he exploited my pain, the families' pain, the wounded nation's pain, and sabotaged the deal. Someone who talks about a comprehensive agreement doesn't go to conquer the Strip and put hostages and soldiers in danger. He lied to me, he lied to all of us."
"I ask each and every one of you - come with us tonight to face the Cabinet meeting in Jerusalem, let's stop this together. Starting tonight, we will flood the streets throughout the country together. Be with us families tonight in Jerusalem facing the Cabinet meeting, let's stop this together," Zangauker said.
The hostage families' headquarters stated, "Chief of Staff, we ask you to stand firm. You are the supreme commander, do not agree to endanger our loved ones. The truth is clear - 80% of the public supports a comprehensive agreement to return the 50 hostages and end the fighting. Therefore, there is only one decision the government can and must make – fulfill the people's will, and immediately sign an agreement that will bring everyone home."
The statement continued, "Any other decision is undermining the people's will and against the values of friendship and mutual responsibility. Any other decision will be clearly inhumane and will bring disaster on the hostages and the State of Israel as a whole. The hostage families call on IDF commanders at all levels and ranks not to act in a way that will endanger the lives of the hostages and prevent the chance of returning the bodies."
