Thousands of Israeli protesters took to the streets Sunday in a massive strike that shut down roads and businesses across the country. These demonstrators are demanding their government make a deal with Hamas terrorists for a ceasefire and hostage release. Police had to use water cannons and make arrests as crowds tried to block major highways in Tel Aviv.
The protests came after 22 months of war against Hamas in Gaza. About 50 Israeli hostages remain trapped in Gaza, with only 20 believed to still be alive. Families of these hostages organized the nationwide strike along with other bereaved families.
This is exactly what Hamas wants to see. The terror group is watching Israelis turn against their own government while Hamas sits in tunnels with innocent hostages. Every protest like this gives Hamas hope that Israel will cave to pressure and stop fighting.
Israel has every right to defend itself against these brutal terrorists who started this war on October 7th. Hamas murdered over 1,000 innocent Israelis and took hundreds hostage in the most barbaric attack since the Holocaust. Now some Israelis want to reward Hamas with a ceasefire deal.
The protesters chanted slogans like “We don’t win a war over the bodies of hostages.” But they are missing the bigger picture here. If Israel stops fighting now, Hamas will claim victory and plan even worse attacks in the future.
Hamas has broken every ceasefire deal it has ever signed with Israel. These terrorists use ceasefires to rearm and regroup for the next massacre. Any deal with Hamas is a deal with the devil that will cost more Israeli lives down the road.
The Israeli government should ignore these misguided protests and finish the job against Hamas. Total victory means destroying Hamas completely so they can never threaten Israeli families again. Anything less is surrender to terrorism.
These protesters mean well but they are playing right into Hamas hands. The best way to save the remaining hostages is to crush Hamas so badly they have no choice but to surrender unconditionally. Israel must stay strong and not give in to pressure from the streets.
