Air raid sirens interrupt anti-war protest on Netanyahu’s street

JERUSALEM – Hundreds of people gathered Tuesday in central Jerusalem’s prestigious Rehavia neighborhood on the same street where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu resides. Some carried posters showing images of hostages taken by the terror group Hamas during the Oct. 7 attacks. They called on Netanyahu to bring back the hostages and reverse his administration’s expanding war in Gaza City.

But one of the speakers at the event was cut short when air raid sirens blared over the city. One of the demonstrators attributed the siren to a missile launched from Yemen.

A new normal

Israel Defense Forces later verified that it detected a projectile fired by Houthi rebels in neighboring Yemen shortly before 8 p.m. local time. The Israeli military successfully intercepted the rocket and there were no injuries, but the incident briefly closed Israel’s airspace, according to a report from Ynet news.

During the siren, some demonstrators sat on the ground and put their hands in the air or over their heads. Some laughed and continued chatting. Many did nothing at all.

The siren lasted about two minutes as demonstrators sat quietly. When it was over, the speaker resumed as if nothing had happened.

Anti-war message

The demonstration was organized by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, a group that represents many of the hostages taken by Hamas during the attacks on that day in October 2023. Monday was intended to be the first day of a permanent encampment on Netanyahu’s street, with the group pledging not to leave until the hostages are returned and the war in Gaza ended.

Ynon Wygoda identified himself as an Orthodox Jew who attended because he felt the Jewish people had lost their way.

“For thousands of years we have suffered at the hands of others, and I tremble at the thought that now that we have some power, others are suffering under our hands,” he said. “There is never violence on the other side that can justify violence on our own part. Even the worst kind.”

Increasing pressure

The demonstration came on Tuesday as Netanyahu announced that President Donald Trump invited him for a return visit to the White House in two weeks. Israel has faced mounting global pressure over its expanding military campaign in Gaza City and its airstrikes on targets in Qatar last week. Israel’s military said it was targeting Hamas leadership in the country.

Speaking on Tuesday, Netanyahu said nearly 400,000 residents left Gaza City, and he had instructed Israel’s Ministry of Defense to find ways to allow them to leave more easily. He also threatened Hamas, saying anyone who harms the hostages will be hunted down for the rest of their lives, which would be short.

But outside the prime minister’s home, Lee Siegel, brother of former hostage Keith Siegel, had his own message for Netanyahu.

“Bring the hostages home and we will deal with our security,” he said. “We have a very strong army. We fell asleep on Oct. 7. We did. That is a very, very black day for the entire country, including the army and the intelligence services. But we know how to protect ourselves. We’ve learned our lessons. We’re not going to let that happen again.

Dig deeper: Read Lauren Canterberry’s report on Israel’s growing ground operation in Gaza City.