Jerusalem, Feb 25 (EFE). – Israeli authorities have launched an investigation to look into allegations of police excesses during protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in Tel Aviv over the war in Gaza.
At least 21 protesters were arrested, and several others sustained injuries, as thousands gathered across Israel on Saturday night, calling for Netanyahu’s resignation and urging negotiations for the release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
According to Hebrew media reports, the Internal Investigations Department of the police has opened an inquiry.
Led by the families of the hostages, demonstrators in Tel Aviv and other Israeli cities demanded a ceasefire with Hamas and the release of the 130 captives from the Palestinian enclave. Similar protests have been occurring every Saturday in recent weeks.
Last night, demonstrations in Tel Aviv escalated into violence when protesters blocked traffic on the Ayalon highway, leading to the deployment of water cannons and mounted police by the authorities.
Videos circulating on social media depict a mounted officer striking a protester with reins, causing public outrage.
These clashes, the most severe since the outbreak of the war on Oct. 7, resulted in 21 arrests and multiple injuries, particularly on Kaplan Street, near the Kirya military base, the headquarters of the Israeli Army and the Defense Ministry, and the location where the war cabinet meets.
At least two of those arrested were leaders of the anti-government protest movement, which began in January 2023 following Netanyahu’s controversial judicial reform announcement.
The reform sparked nine months of protests due to concerns that it abolished the reasonability doctrine, which allowed the top court to review and overturn government decisions.
Following the Gaza war, families of the hostages began a modest protest movement, which has since expanded and integrated with the larger anti-government democratic movement that originated a year ago.
“Police violence against protesters, including the families of the hostages, is dangerous, undemocratic, and cannot continue,” said opposition leader Yair Lapid on his X account.
“The right to protest is a fundamental right and cannot be taken away from protesters with batons and water cannons.”
The police said they arrested the protesters because they were “gathering illegally and disrupting order,” accusing the detainees of “going out with the purpose of confronting the officers and not for a legitimate protest.” EFE
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