Anti-war demonstrations took place across Israel on Saturday, with police forcibly dispersing hundreds of protesters at the main rally in Habima Square and arresting 13 people, authorities said.
Police and Border Police units said the gathering violated Home Front Command guidelines. Officers were seen pushing demonstrators, confiscating protest signs and detaining participants after a senior officer ordered arrests.
Some protesters sat on the ground in defiance, chanting slogans including “The police are criminals,” as officers moved to clear the area.
Clashes as right-wing activists confront protesters
Tensions escalated when right-wing activists arrived at the scene and confronted demonstrators, leading to scuffles. Police later detained a man who attempted to intervene between the הצדדים.
Protesters chanted slogans נגד the government, including criticism of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and carried signs reading “End the eternal war” and “We have no children for messianic wars.”
Haifa protest sees arrests
In the northern city of Haifa, hundreds gathered at the Horev Center for a parallel demonstration. Police arrested nine protesters after attempting to disperse the crowd and remove signs.
Witnesses said some passersby threw eggs at demonstrators before the police action.
Among those present at the Tel Aviv protest was Ofer Kassif, a member of parliament, who accused police of using excessive force after officers pushed him during the demonstration.
Kassif said he had taken part in a peaceful protest and alleged that authorities were suppressing dissent. Police did not immediately comment on the incident.
The demonstrations, held under the slogan calling to end what organizers described as an “eternal war,” took place in around 20 locations nationwide.
In Jerusalem, about 300 people protested in what organizers described as the largest rally there since the start of the current conflict. Smaller demonstrations were also reported at junctions and towns across the country.
Separately, a group of protesters in Tel Aviv held photos of children killed in the conflict across the region, calling for an end to the violence and a return to diplomacy.
Organizers accuse police of selective enforcement
A coalition of civil society and human rights groups that helped organize the Tel Aviv protest said police were using security regulations to restrict political expression.
“It is impossible to use Home Front Command instructions as an excuse to silence protest,” the group said in a statement, accusing authorities of selective enforcement.
Police have said their actions were guided by public safety considerations amid ongoing security threats.
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