Police confront demonstrators in Tel Aviv during rallies demanding a ceasefire in Gaza throughout Israel.
In videos from Tel Aviv, there's footage of the police on horseback and water cannons trying to disperse the crowds that refused to leave Democracy Square, leading to violent confrontations.
In a separate protest, two individuals were arrested by the police for causing disturbances. The police said these individuals went against the designated demonstration area at Kaplan and went to Azrieli, where they lit fires and caused chaos without heeding the officers' instructions. The law enforcement then declared the rally unlawful, forewarning that force might be used if the demonstrators didn't disband.
These events unfolded after anti-government marches in various Israeli cities demanding for the freedom of captives taken by Hamas during their sudden attack on Oct 7. The protests also urged for a general election.
During the same day, 250 individuals were seized by Hamas during their attack on southern Israel, resulting in a reported 1,200 fatalities according to official Israeli accounts. Since then, Israel retaliated by waging war against Hamas in Gaza, resulting in the death of over 35,000 Palestinians, as stated by the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Saturday's demonstrations held mostly in Tel Aviv, Haifa, and Rehovot had their participants targeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. They held him responsible for corruption and his questionable actions during the conflict with Hamas.
Families of abducted hosts held a separate protest pressing for imminent resumption of discussions with Hamas to progress a deal that would secure the release of all captives.
The Israeli Prime Minister's Office (PMO) surmises that 125 hostages remain in Gaza, following the November release deal which liberated over 100.
Among the remaining 125, 121 were apprehended on October 7. The four other prisoners were already in custody before the clashes erupted.
The PMO presumes at least 37 of the hostages still in the Gaza Strip were slain.
The negotiations for a truce and hostage exchange will recommence on Tuesday, an Egyptian official informed CNN.
The Egyptian official mentioned that the discussions would happen in Cairo.
However, an Israeli official corroborated to CNN that talks would also restart in the upcoming week, but they didn't clarify a particular location.
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The international community is closely monitoring the ongoing conflict in Israel, with many calling for a peaceful resolution. In particular, the Middle East region is watching the situation in Gaza with concern, as the world hopes for a swift end to the violence.
Source: edition.cnn.com
