Israeli anti-war protests grow, police detain demonstrators in Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv — Hundreds of Israelis protested against the ongoing war involving Iran in multiple cities on Saturday, with police dispersing unauthorized gatherings and arresting demonstrators amid strict wartime restrictions.
Weekly protests, which began with small turnouts following the launch of joint military operations by Israel and the United States on February 28, are drawing gradually larger crowds, though still far below last year’s mass demonstrations over the Gaza conflict.
In Tel Aviv, security forces moved to break up a rally at HaBima Square, citing emergency regulations that prohibit gatherings of more than 50 people due to ongoing missile threats from Iran and Lebanon.Police said 13 people were arrested in the city, while an additional five were detained in Haifa after protesters blocked roads and ignored instructions to disperse.
Authorities described the demonstrations as illegal under wartime guidelines.Footage showed officers forcibly removing protesters, with some individuals pushed to the ground during clashes.
Organizers, including groups such as Standing Together, Peace Now and Women Wage Peace, accused authorities of suppressing dissent. A spokesperson for one organizing group said the demonstrations had not received official authorization.
Participants expressed frustration over the lack of clarity surrounding the war’s objectives. “Nobody actually knows what is the aim,” said Yoram, a 52-year-old tour guide attending the Tel Aviv protest.Another protester, Joanne Levine, 76, criticized the government’s strategy, linking the conflict to the policies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Despite the protests, public backing for the war remains strong. A poll by the Israel Democracy Institute found that 78 percent of Jewish Israelis support the conflict, compared to 19 percent among Arab Israeli citizens.
However, opposition is increasing, with the share of those against the war rising to 11.5 percent from 4 percent earlier in March, according to the survey.The demonstrations come as Israel continues to face sustained rocket and missile fire amid escalating regional hostilities.
