Protesters Shut Down Jerusalem in Hostage Deal Strike, Smotrich Condemns Movement

A nationwide strike led by families of hostages erupted into dramatic scenes in Jerusalem this Sunday, as demonstrators blocked Begin Boulevard demanding a deal to free the remaining captives in Gaza and an end to the war.

The march began at Hebrew University’s Givat Ram campus, with organizers refusing to disclose the route in advance. Instead, protesters were instructed to “follow the drummers,” who abruptly changed direction within minutes of the demonstration, leading the crowd onto one of the capital’s busiest arteries.

Dozens of demonstrators sat on the pavement, halting traffic, while police declared the protest illegal. As of midday, officers had not moved in to carry out arrests.

The strike, endorsed by a long list of local authorities, companies, and civic groups, was called in opposition to the government’s plan to launch a major ground invasion of Gaza City, a military operation expected to last months. Families of the 50 remaining hostages argue that such an offensive would bury hopes of their loved ones’ release.

Coalition Figures Push Back

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich lashed out at the strike, branding it “a bad and damaging campaign” that he said “plays into Hamas’s hands.”

“The nation of Israel is waking up this morning to a campaign that buries the hostages in the tunnels and tries to make Israel surrender to its enemies,” Smotrich posted on X. He dismissed the protest’s impact, insisting it had “not taken off” despite public attention in recent days.

Smotrich, a vocal proponent of annexing Gaza and establishing Israeli settlements there, argued that “the vast majority” of Israelis understood the need to continue the war until Hamas is destroyed.

Likud MK Hanoch Milwidsky also condemned the protest, writing: “The riots supporting Hamas are kicking off. Jews, Israelis who are torching the state in an attempt to prevent the destruction of Hamas. We’ve had people like this throughout history. We’ll overcome them this time as well.”

Public Opinion Divided

Polls, however, consistently show a majority of Israelis favor striking a deal with Hamas to free the hostages, even if it means halting the war.

For now, Begin Boulevard remains paralyzed, as the hostage families’ strike turns into one of the largest public challenges yet to the government’s Gaza strategy.