Mass protests in Israel on August 17. Photo taken from Gila Svirsky Facebook page.
The mass protests in Israel on Aug. 17 were inspiring. People stopped work, studies, vacations, prior obligations and showed up on streets throughout the country to demand a ceasefire, a deal to free the hostages, the provision of food and aid into Gaza, and not to further invade and occupy Gaza.
HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS IN THE STREETS
Conservative estimates put 300,000 people out on the streets with their signs and chants, and that’s 3% of Israel’s population. Do the math: that’s equivalent to 10 million Americans showing up somewhere to demonstrate.
Mass protests in Israel on August 17. Photo taken from Gila Svirsky Facebook page.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, of course, was furious. And despicable. He declared it a pro-Hamas rally that “guaranteed” a repeat of the October 7 horrors. Bibi’s (Netanyahu’s) constant refrain that “only military pressure on Hamas will return the hostages” has no basis in fact. Only political deals—ceasefires—enabled the release of 150 hostages. The military managed to rescue only eight, while allowing 41 to be killed in captivity, some by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) firepower.
Throughout the day there was civil disobedience: roadblocks, burning tires, phalanxes of drums beating, flouting of police orders; and there were arrests and water hoses, and other attempts to break up the crowds. Even sirens wailing of an incoming missile from the Houthis in Yemen managed to pause the protests only briefly, as the missile was thankfully intercepted before it landed. (Yes, for this I am grateful to the IDF.)
These protesters are brave and determined. I’m not there, but I wish I were.
–Gila Svirsky
Thank you, Gila Svirsky.
Many on the international left and within the Palestine solidarity movement dismiss the potential of social struggle within Israel itself, calling for total boycotts of all things Israeli, even Israeli peace activists.
It is true that calls to end the war still mainly foreground the hostages, rather than solidarity with Palestinians. Socialists should work within the movement to argue for internationalism, not dismiss the strategic significance of mass opposition to war because its perspectives are imperfect.
Standing Together holds rallies with bilingual (Hebrew-Arabic) materials, Palestinian speakers and placards showing images of murdered Palestinian children. They also carry these placards in wider anti-government demonstrations.
17 August offers a glimpse of how Israel’s genocidal war could be halted. Sustained strikes in key industries, along with mass refusal of reservists to report for duty, would make it extremely difficult for the war machine to grind on.
Support the anti-war revolt inside Israel!