As thousands of Israelis gather for weekly protests, repeated complaints of police violence reported

An estimated 130,000 people gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday night for protest rallies, demanding a hostage release deal and calling for early elections.

Some protesters carried photos of Israeli hostages, while others carried messages accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of abandoning the hostages. 

Among those who addressed the crowds in Tel Aviv were siblings of several hostages. 

Lee Siegel, whose brother Keith Siege (64) was captured from Kibbutz Kfar Aza on Oct. 7 , told the crowds, “I'm here tonight from my brother Keith, who is 267 days, a hostage in Gaza. I am here to speak for him. He cannot speak for himself. I am here to tell everyone who will listen and even those who will not listen. Whatever deal we can make happen needs to happen. The war needs to stop. My brother needs to come home.” 

Efrat Yahalomi, sister of French-Israeli hostage Ohad Yahalomi, said, “Almost 9 months have passed, and I'm still standing here with a heavy heart, while you, Ohad, are still not here. You and our 119 other hostages – fathers, brothers, sisters, sons, and daughters - are still languishing in captivity, which is incredibly painful.” 

Other speakers made anti-government statements, including demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu call fresh elections and step down. Some protesters accuse him of putting his political survival before the lives of the hostages. 

“The continuation of this war means the murder of the hostages by the Israeli government. The blood is on your hands,” said Snir Daan, whose cousin Carmel is still being held in Gaza.

“Time after time, Netanyahu has sabotaged this deal at the moment of truth, by boasting in his own voice or through a nameless government official, saying that he will not agree to end this war. Netanyahu must not be allowed to sabotage this deal, too.”

The protests in Tel Aviv, which are led by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, focus on the demand for a hostage release deal. The organization has a policy of nonpartisanship, and does not actively take part anti-government protests. On Saturday evening, the forum showed a video recorded by recently-rescued hostage Noa Argamani, calling on the public to remember the hostages and “do everything possible to bring them back home.” 

While Israeli police reported public disturbances in Tel Aviv, including the lighting of “bonfires, tires and torches in the heart of the residential neighborhood,” there were reports of police violence against protesters in Jerusalem.

In videos on social media, shared by Israel's Channel N12, police were seen arresting one protester and tying him to a vehicle. In a separate video, a police officer can be heard telling a protester he would “rape his mother.” 

Israel Police responded to the reports by announcing an investigation into the incident. 

“The policeman's conduct at the scene is not in line with the norms of discourse and conduct expected of every policeman even in turbulent situations of this kind, so it will be examined and dealt with accordingly,” the police said. 

Knesset Member Naama Lazimi reported being shoved and grabbed by police officers after coming between a group of protesting hostage families and police. She posted a message to 𝕏 which read: “This is the government’s police force and not a public police force.” 

Reports of police violence have been a frequent component of the weekly protests since the judicial reform protests last year.