Sept. 1 (UPI) — Protests took place across Israel after the recovery of six hostages’ bodies in Gaza, including Israeli-American 23-year-old Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, in opposition to the government’s failure for the safe return of abductees.
In addition, the Tel Aviv, Kfar Saba and Givatayim municipalities have all announced that they will join a nationwide strike Monday in support of hostage families tomorrow. Histadrut Labor Federation chief Arnon Bar-David announced a general strike Monday, demanding a deal to return the remaining hostages is “more important than anything else.”
On Sunday, Israel Defense Forces announced the remains of four men and two women were found Saturday in a tunnel and later identified. The four men and two women were murdered around a day or two before troops found them, IDF said.
Around half of 250 hostages seized in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel have been freed: 117 with 78 Israeli women and children. Also, 1,200 Israelis died in the assault.
Demonstrations occurred in Tel Aviv, Ra’anana, Rehovot and Be’er Sheva.
Protesters blocked roads, demanding an immediate agreement to secure the remaining hostages’ release.
“Look them in the eyes,” one banner read.
A protester at the Bilu Junction in Rehovot said: “We have to stop our routine, to stop the country until the hostages come home.”
The protests are led by Hostages Families Forum with the motto “bring them home now.” A block lists it has been 331 days since they were abducted.
On Saturday the group declared: “Starting tomorrow the country will tremble. We call on the public to prepare. We will stop the country.”
A vigil is planned in Tel Aviv at 6 p.m. local time Saturday and a rally at Begin Gate, outside the government headquarters in Tel Aviv in the next hour.
The municipality of Tel Aviv-Jaffa in Israel will participate in a half-day strike Monday.
“Starting in the morning until noon, there will be no municipal public services and we will allow all employees to go out and support the families’ fight,” Tel Aviv mayor Ron Huldai said in a post on X Sunday
Demonstrations also took place outside the Cabinet meeting Sunday morning in Jerusalem.
The Forum demanded that Netanyahu “take responsibility for the thwarting [of a deal[. Take responsibility for the neglect. Take responsibility for the hostages who were murdered in captivity.”
Netanyahu, saying he was shocked to the core by the “the terrible cold-blooded murder of six of our hostages,” blamed Hamas for blocking a deal that would lead to the release of hostages in Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, this morning:
“This is a difficult day for us.
Together with all citizens of Israel, I was outraged to the depths of my soul by the horrific, cold-blooded murder of six of our hostages: pic.twitter.com/Fs8qqlhJUm— Prime Minister of Israel (@IsraeliPM) September 1, 2024
“Three months ago, on May 27, Israel agreed to a hostage release deal with the full backing of the United States,” he said in the taped statement. “Hamas refused. Even after the United States updated the outline of the deal on August 16 – we agreed, and Hamas again refused.”
He added that the Israeli government and he, personally, are “committed to continue working toward a deal that will bring back all our hostages and guarantee our security and existence.”
The prime minister said that “Israel is conducting intensive negotiations with the mediators in a supreme effort to reach a deal, Hamas continues to firmly refuse any proposal.”
Netanyahu plans to speak with the victims’ families.
An autopsy concluded that the hostages were killed by short-range shots, a spokesperson for Israel’s health ministry said Sunday.
The IDF won’t yet exactly how and when they were killed, Lt. Col Nadav Shoshani, an IDF spokesman, told reporters Sunday.
Identified were Ori Danino, 25; Eden Yerushalmi, 24; Almog Sarusi, 27; and Alexander Lobanov, 33, who were abducted with Goldberg-Polin from a music festival during Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. Carmel Gat, 40, was taken from the nearby farming community of Be’eri.
UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called for “the unconditional release of all hostages and an end to the nightmare of war in Gaza.
“I will never forget my meeting last October with the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin and other hostage families,” Guterres said in a post on X.
“Today’s tragic news is a devastating reminder of the need for the unconditional release of all hostages and an end to the nightmare of war in Gaza,” he added.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan plans to hold a virtual meeting Sunday with the families of the American hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, a spokesperson for the National Security Council confirmed to NBC News.
The family of 23-year-old Hersh Goldberg-Polin announced that his funeral will be held Monday at Har Hamenuchot in Jerusalem.
President Joe Biden announced the deaths of six hostages late Saturday from Delaware before confirmation from IDF.
He said he was “devastated and outraged” at the news.
On Sunday, he spoke with the parents of Hersh Goldberg-Polin “to offer his condolences for the death of their son at the hands of Hamas,” a White House official said.
Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq blamed Israel for killings, saying the nation was unwilling to reach a deal and the United States had continued to support “the war of genocide” due to the country’s “bias” for Israel.
Hamas urged Palestinians to attack Israelis.
“We are mobilizing all cities, villages, and camps to ignite the fire against the occupation and to block the settlers’ roads by all means. We call on everyone who bears arms to direct their bullets at the chests of the occupiers, who continue to commit massacres against our steadfast people in the Gaza Strip,” the statement read.
