Demonstrators waved Israeli flags and carried photos of
hostages as whistles, horns, and drums echoed at rallies across the country,
while some protesters blocked streets and highways, including the main route
between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
“Today,
everything stops to remember the highest value: the sanctity of life,” Anat
Angrest, the mother of hostage Matan Angrest, told reporters at a public square
in Tel Aviv.
Among those who met with families of hostages in Tel Aviv
was Israeli Hollywood actress Gal Gadot, known for her role as Wonder Woman and
starring in the Fast & the Furious franchise.
Ahead
of Sunday, some businesses and institutions said they would allow staff to join
the nationwide strike, which was called by the hostages' families. While some
businesses closed, many also remained open across the country on what is a
working day in Israel. Schools are on summer recess and were not affected.
Israeli police said that 38 demonstrators had been detained.
Some protesters blocking roads scuffled with police, and were carried away by
officers.
Demonstrations across the country were briefly halted when
air raid sirens sounded in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and elsewhere, warning of an
incoming missile fired from Yemen. The missile was intercepted without
incident.
On Sunday, Netanyahu told the cabinet, "Those who call
today for an end to the war without defeating Hamas are not only hardening
Hamas' position and delaying the release of our hostages. They are also
ensuring that the horrors of October 07 will repeat themselves over and over
again."
The
prime minister, who leads the country's most right-wing government in history,
said his government was determined to implement a decision for the military
to seize Gaza City, one of the last major areas of the enclave it does not
already control.
