Hundreds of Israelis took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday to protest the ongoing war with Iran, carrying banners and chanting slogans against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Demonstrators gathered at a central square holding signs that read: “Don’t bomb — talk! End the endless war!” The protest took place despite restrictions on mass gatherings imposed due to the conflict with Iran.
Alon-Lee Green, co-director of the Israeli-Palestinian grassroots group Standing Together, told AFP: “Police are trying to silence our voice. We are here to demand an end to the war in Iran, the war in Lebanon, and the war in Gaza, as well as an end to the pogroms in the West Bank. In Israel, there’s always a war. So, if we’re not allowed to demonstrate, we will never be allowed to speak.”
Several protesters, including Green, were reportedly detained by police during the demonstration.
Some protesters also expressed scepticism about the government’s rationale for the conflict. Cecile, 62, who gave only her first name, said, “I’m very suspicious of the reasons. I think the main reason is that Bibi wants to stop his trial,” referring to Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption case.
Netanyahu, who has sought a presidential pardon with repeated pressure from former US President Donald Trump, released a video statement on Saturday evening reaffirming his commitment to the military campaign against Iran.
“I promised you that we would continue to strike the terror regime in Tehran, and that is exactly what we are doing,” he said. “Today, we attacked their petrochemicals hub,” he added, referring to strikes on Iran’s steel-producing facilities earlier. “These two things are their cash machine for funding the war of terror against us and against the entire world. We will continue to strike them.”
Cecile criticised the shifting justifications for the war, adding, “The reasons for the war keep moving and changing all the time. We don’t know what will be considered a success or a failure, and we don’t know how long it’s gonna take.”
Since midnight, Iranian missiles have targeted Israel in several waves, including areas in Tel Aviv and central Israel, leaving at least five people injured, according to Israeli medics.
Later on Saturday evening, the demonstrators began dispersing after alerts warned of incoming missiles. Minutes after the protest ended, Israel’s military reported it had detected a missile launched from Yemen.
The United States and Israel have carried out joint strikes on Iran since February 28, prompting Iran to respond with daily missile attacks targeting Israel and neighbouring countries across the region.
