The discovery of six Israeli hostages' bodies in Gaza has triggered a wave of protests in Israel. Yesterday, demonstrations multiplied across the country, accompanied by a general strike, though unevenly followed and interrupted earlier than planned.
In Jerusalem, about a hundred protesters gathered near Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence, ironically located on Gaza Street. Among them, Jonathan, a political science student, expressed outrage: "The government doesn't care about the hostages. All it does is cling to power!" His colleague Naama adds: "Hamas is pressuring us to accept a deal. They're leading the dance, not us."
The funerals of Carmel Gat, Eden Yerushalmi, Alexander Lobanov, Almog Sarusi, Ori Danino, and Hersh Goldberg-Polin took place between Sunday and Monday. According to the Israeli Ministry of Health, they were allegedly murdered "at point-blank range" between Thursday and Friday morning. However, a Hamas official maintains that they were "killed by occupier fire and bombings."
The general strike, launched by the Histadrut trade union federation, was widely observed. Tel Aviv airport was closed for two hours, and many businesses shut down. However, at the request of far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, the Labor Court ruled against the strike, arguing that its motivation was political in nature.
Israeli public opinion seems to be evolving. A recent Channel 12 poll indicates that only 26% of Israelis favor a "total victory" against Hamas, while two out of three people believe that freeing the hostages is more important than continuing the war.
Tamar, a volunteer at the Hostage Families Forum, believes this war has become absurd: "We should have stopped after a month or two. Too many soldiers have died, too many hostages too." Of the 251 captives from October 7, 2023, 97 are still in Gaza, with 33 declared dead by the Israeli army.
The death of Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old Israeli-American, was particularly moving. His parents had spoken at the Democratic convention in Chicago on August 21. The emotion stirred was strong in Washington, where American officials nevertheless refuse to put words to the current impasse.
Despite diplomatic efforts by the Biden administration to secure a ceasefire, the situation seems to be at a standstill. The lack of interest from both the Israeli Prime Minister and the Hamas leader in concluding an agreement, for different reasons, complicates negotiations.
The Biden line, consisting of unconditional support for Israel while betting on the success of negotiations, seems increasingly out of touch with reality. The supposed red lines set by the White House have been regularly ignored by Benjamin Netanyahu.
Although the mobilization in Israel is of rare magnitude, the end of this terrible war does not yet seem near. Hatred for Hamas remains stronger than empathy for Palestinian civilians for a part of Israeli public opinion. Netanyahu's refusal to abandon control of certain strategic areas of Gaza blocks negotiations with Hamas.
This struggle for land seems to be taking precedence over the lives of the hostages and the innocent people of Gaza, whose tragic fate will probably not be changed by the anger demonstrated today by Israelis.