Fiery anger has spilled onto the streets of Israel, with the nation grinding to a halt under the weight of massive protests and a widespread national strike. Dubbed a 'Day of Disruption', the unrest is a direct response to the stalled ceasefire and hostage release negotiations with Hamas, coupled with deep-seated fury at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.
The scale of the demonstrations is vast, shutting down key infrastructure across the country. Protesters blocked major highways, including the vital Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv, bringing traffic to a standstill. The economic heart of the nation, Tel Aviv's stock exchange, was forced to close its doors as unions joined the strike.
In Jerusalem, the seat of power, tensions reached a boiling point. Police deployed water cannons against crowds marching on the Knesset, Israel's parliament. The scenes were chaotic, with black smoke from burning tyres obscuring views of the legislature and the sounds of firecrackers and loudspeakers echoing through the streets.
At the very core of the public's rage is the fate of the hostages still held captive in Gaza. Families of the victims and their supporters are accusing Netanyahu of prioritising political survival over human lives. Chants of 'elections now' and signs demanding a deal have become the unifying cry of a movement that spans the political divide.
The protests represent one of the most severe challenges to Netanyahu's leadership since the war began. The simultaneous economic shutdown and civil disobedience signal a critical moment of internal crisis for Israel, as external pressures on the Gaza front continue to mount.
