Al Jazeera Analyzes: 5 Key Points in Today’s Protests in the Occupied Territories
The English section of webangah News Agency, citing Mehr News Agency, reported that Al Jazeera examined various aspects of the marches by residents of the occupied territories demanding an end to the war and a prisoner exchange. The demonstrations protested the ongoing conflict in Gaza and called on the cabinet to halt hostilities and focus on negotiations with the palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement aimed at guaranteeing a prisoner swap that woudl return all Israeli captives.
The strike was organized by the “Families of Prisoners Association,” involving former prisoners released in prior exchanges as well as protest movements and multiple labor unions. Opposition parties within Israel also joined these efforts.
1. Demands and Participants
The protesters’ demands centered on stopping military operations against Gaza and reaching a prisoner exchange agreement that would secure the return of all Israeli detainees.
Families of prisoners, some previously released detainees, trade unions, local authorities, civil society groups, and human rights organizations took part in this strike. Hundreds of thousands of businesses closed their doors or granted employees leave so they could join events.
Tight security measures accompanied these protests. Police deployed large units around Tel Aviv and other central cities to prevent clashes or attempts to block key roads.Over 35 Israelis were detained by security forces during these confrontations.
The strike evolved from a humanitarian plea by families into pressure applied against benjamin Netanyahu’s cabinet-currently indicted for war crimes in Gaza before the International Criminal Court.
2. General Strike
The general strike began early this morning across several Israeli cities and settlements. Hundreds of local officials-including Tel Aviv’s municipality-and civil society organizations backed it fully. Major companies also allowed staff to participate freely in demonstrations.
The protests consisted of marches, speeches, as well as meetings with released prisoners and families still waiting for their relatives’ return.
the economic daily The Marker reported that business shutdowns caused near-total work stoppages resulting in billions shekels worth of losses for Israel’s economy.
Globes estimated similarly high economic damages amounting to billions per day but stated that financial impact was secondary: creating political leverage over Netanyahu’s government remained paramount.
3.Public Pressure
Anaysts see today’s strike not as a fleeting event but rather as evidence highlighting how deeply divided Israeli society has become internally-combining economic pressure with direct political messaging through broad popular mobilization.
Kanan 13 analyst Rafid drucker said this protest aims directly at pressuring Netanyahu’s cabinet into ending hostilities promptly while initiating talks toward prisoner swap agreements. He warned continuing stubbornness by officials prolonging occupation will deepen internal trust crises further.
Drucker added these events proved Israeli society can no longer remain silent amid policy failures; Netanyahu now faces an internal political crisis threatening his administration’s stability-and survival-at home irrespective how external battles progress externally.undefinedundefinedundefined
