Tel Aviv protests swell as fears grow over Gaza displacement
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Tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in Tel Aviv demanding an end to the war in Gaza and the release of hostages, while Palestinians feared the forcible displacement of one million people from Gaza City, and Australia barred entry to a far-right Israeli politician accused of spreading division.
The mass rally in Tel Aviv on Sunday evening was described as one of the largest demonstrations since the conflict began in October 2023, and it was the culmination of nationwide protests and a general strike intended to pressure the government to halt the military campaign, with organisers claiming that around half a million people had filled the central plaza known as Hostage Square.
The protests were led by the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, which said the aim was to secure a comprehensive agreement for the return of hostages and to bring the war to an end, although the police did not confirm the figures and reported more than 30 arrests after clashes in several cities where roads were blocked and tyres were set alight.
The discontent coincided with Israel’s announcement of preparations to move up to a million Palestinians from Gaza City as part of an offensive plan to seize control of the enclave’s largest urban centre, and officials said that tents and shelter equipment would be supplied through the Kerem Shalom crossing under UN and international supervision, even as Gaza’s health authorities reported at least 40 deaths on Saturday from Israeli attacks, including people in temporary shelters and civilians seeking aid.
Palestinians, already displaced multiple times, said they were exhausted and braced for another humanitarian crisis, warning that repeated relocations had left them without food, medicine, or shelter, and that new displacement would drive them further into uncertainty.
In Israel, political divisions deepened as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticised the protesters, accusing them of strengthening Hamas’s position and prolonging the plight of hostages, while recordings aired by local media showed a former military intelligence chief suggesting that mass Palestinian casualties were justified after the October 7 attacks, remarks that raised further controversy about the conduct of the war.
Australia cancelled the visa of Simcha Rothman, a member of Israel’s far-right Religious Zionism party and a key figure in the Netanyahu coalition, who was scheduled to appear in Sydney and Melbourne at public and private events billed as a solidarity tour.
The Albanese government said the decision was taken to prevent the spread of hate and division, and the cancellation means Rothman cannot apply for another visa for three years, a move welcomed by critics but denounced by the politician as discriminatory.