Despite the immense pain inflicted on Israel’s society with the brutal murder of six hostages by Hamas, its citizens remain polarized regarding how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government are handling the negotiations that could lead to a cease-fire and the release of more than 100 people that remain captive in Gaza since October 7. Although a majority of Tel Aviv’s locals expressed anger, frustration, and blame towards the current government, not everyone thinks the recent protests and nationwide strike helped the Jewish state, with some even claiming they still support the Prime Minister.
We need to stop the world. We need to stop the country. We need to stop everything until they come back home.
Maya, a young supporter of the Hostages’ Families group, told TML, “We need to stop the world. We need to stop the country. We need to stop everything until they come back home.”
Similarly, another Israeli, Kate, thinks, “Only when everything is stopped—all the stores, all the airports, all the roads—only then will the government care.”
Yair Moses, son of Gadi Moses, who is currently held in Gaza, explained to TML that the strike was “A powerful symbol, showing the government that the people can no longer tolerate the situation. They must change course, prioritize reaching an agreement, and stop creating obstacles. The goal should be to secure a deal that brings everyone home—allowing the living to begin healing and ensuring that the deceased are properly laid to rest in Israel.”
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However, not everyone agrees with the strike, and others even think Netanyahu is doing well. Adam, an Israeli-American citizen, said he “sympathize and agree with the people striking, but I don’t agree with the strike.”
I don’t think it is helpful having our transport network, our economy, and our schools help anyone. It’s actually helping Hamas. It helps our enemies. So, in that particular case, I don’t think it’s the right thing to do. There are many ways we can show solidarity and protest the situation without actually impacting society.
“I don’t think it is helpful having our transport network, our economy, and our schools help anyone. It’s actually helping Hamas. It helps our enemies. So, in that particular case, I don’t think it’s the right thing to do. There are many ways we can show solidarity and protest the situation without actually impacting society.”
N., another Tel Aviv resident sitting near the Hostages’ Square, was concerned about sharing his opinions but explained to TML that he thinks that “Most of the people who demonstrate for this, here in Israel, are useful idiots. They don’t understand what they are doing. Look, what the left is trying to do is destabilize Israel.”
In a recent statement by Hudhaifa Kahlout, known as Abu Obeida, he implied that hostages will be murdered if the IDF closes into the locations where the victims are being held. “We say to everyone clearly that after the Nuseirat incident, new instructions were issued to the mujahideen assigned to guard the prisoners regarding dealing with them if the occupation army approached their place of detention.”
About 45 miles from the Hostages’ Square in Tel Aviv, at the Har HaMenuchot Cemetery in Jerusalem, Rachel Goldberg-Polin spoke at the funeral of her son, Hersh: “Hersh, for all these months, I’ve been in such torment and worried about you for every single millisecond of every single day. It was such a specific type of misery that I never experienced before. If there was something we could have done to save you and we didn’t think of it, I beg your forgiveness. We tried so very hard, so deeply, and desperately. I’m sorry.”
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog, who also attended Hersh’s funeral, said, “As a human being, as a father, and President of the State of Israel, I want to say how sorry I am. How sorry I am that we didn’t protect Hersh that dark day. How sorry I am that we failed to bring him home. In his life and his death, Hersh has touched all of humanity deeply.”
In the wake of the tragic loss, Tel Aviv’s streets reflected a broader national struggle, where grief mingles with deep-seated frustration and polarized views. As the sun sets for the 332nd time since October 7, one thing remains clear: the path forward for the Jewish country is fraught with difficult decisions that will test the resolve and the unity of the Israeli people.