Jerusalem (AP) – Israeli police exploded crowds with water cannons and made dozens of arrests on Sunday while thousands of demonstrators demanding an agreement to release hostages to Gaza aimed to close the country with a one -day strike that blocked roads and closed companies.
Groups representing hostage families have organized demonstrations as frustration develops in Israel for the plans of a new military offensive in some of the most populous areas of Gaza, which fear many remaining hostages. There are fifty hostages and 20 of them are still alive.
“We are not gaining war against the hostage bodies,” chanted the demonstrators in one of the most important and fierce demonstrations in 22 months of war. Even some former Israeli army and intelligence leaders now call for an agreement to end the fighting.
WATCH: Netanyahu is unleashed on plan criticisms to occupy the city of Gaza while the condemnation of the frames
The demonstrators gathered in dozens of places, including the houses of external politicians, the military seat and the main highways. They blocked tracks and lights of joy on. Some restaurants and theaters have closed solidarity. Police said they had arrested 38 people.
“The only way to bring back (hostages) is by an agreement, suddenly, without games,” said old hostage Arbel Yehoud during a demonstration in Tel Aviv. Her boyfriend Ariel Cunio is still held by Hamas.
A protester bore a photo of an emaciated Palestinian child from Gaza. These images were once rare during Israeli demonstrations, but now appear more often as indignation develops on conditions for civilians after more than 250 deaths related to malnutrition.
Netanyahu opposes any agreement that leaves Hamas to power
The end of the conflict does not seem close. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu balances competing pressures, including mutiny potential within his coalition.
“Those who call today the end of the war without defeating Hamas do not only harden the position of Hamas and delay the release of our hostages, they also ensure that the horrors of October 7 are repeated,” said Netanyahu, referring to the attack led by Hamas in 2023 which killed 1,200 people and sparked the war.
The last time Israel has accepted a ceasefire that has published hostages earlier this year, far-right members of his cabinet threatened to overthrow the government of Netanyahu.
On Sunday, the Minister of Finance, Bezalel Smotrich, described the demonstrations “a bad and harmful campaign that plays in the hands of Hamas, buried the hostages in the tunnels and tries to bring Israel to go to his enemies and compromise his security and his future.”
The new offensive would require the call of thousands of reservists, another concern for many Israelis.
17 Other aid seekers killed in Gaza
Gaza hospitals and witnesses said the Israeli forces had killed at least 17 help seekers on Sunday, including nine aid trucks waiting for the UN near the Morag corridor.
Hamza Asfour said he was just north of the corridor while waiting for a convoy when Israeli elite shooters fired, first to disperse the crowd, then from tanks to hundreds of meters (yards). He saw two people with ball injury.
“It is either to take this risk or wait and see my family starving,” he said.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, which manages the distribution points supported by the United States and supported by the United States which has become the main source of aid since its opening in May, said that there was no shots “or near” of its sites, which are located in areas controlled by the military.
The Israeli army did not immediately answer questions.
The air and land war of Israel has moved most of the Gaza population and killed more than 61,900 people, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health, which does not specify how many fighters or civilians, but says that half of half were women and children.
On Sunday, two children and five adults died of causes related to malnutrition, according to the ministry, which is part of the government managed by Hamas and with health professionals. The UN and independent experts consider it the most reliable source on the victims. Israel disputes its figures but has not provided its own.
The United Nations warned that the levels of famine and malnutrition in Gaza have been at their highest level since the start of the war. Most of the aid has been prevented from entering Gaza since Israel imposed a total blockade in March after ending a cease-fire. Deliveries have since partially resumed, although help organizations say that the flow is much lower than what is necessary.
Fears of the upcoming military offensive
It is not clear when the Israeli army begins the new offensive in the crowded city of Gaza, Muwasi and what Netanyahu called the “Central Camps” of Gaza.
The military organization which coordinates its humanitarian aid in Gaza, Cogat, this weekend, noted that the intention to force combat areas in the south of Gaza “for their protection”. However, “safe areas” designated were also bombed during the war.
Sunday, the Palestinians of the war insisted on Sunday not to leave, arguing that there is “no safe place” in Gaza.
“There are no humanitarian areas at all,” said Raghda Abu Dhaher, who said she was moved 10 times during the war and now shelters in a school in the west of the city of Gaza.
Mohamed Ahmed also insisted that he does not move south. “Here are the bombings and there are bombings,” he said.
Arde on the power plant in Yemen
The Israeli air strikes hit the capital of Yemen on Sunday, degenerating strikes on the Houthi rebels supported by Iran, which since the war in Gaza has launched missiles on Israel and targeted ships in the Red Sea.
The Al-Masirah TV, managed by the Houthis, said that strikes aimed at a power plant in the southern district of Sanhan, triggering a fire and bringing it out of the service. The Israeli army said the strikes had been launched in response to missiles and drones aimed at Israel.
While some projectiles have violated its anti -missile defenses – especially during its 12 -day war with Iran in June – Israel intercepted the vast majority of missiles launched from Yemen. His soldier later Sunday, said that he had intercepted another.
Melzer reported Nahariya, Israel and Magdy of Cairo. Sam Mednick contributed from Tel Aviv, Israel.
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