Amid protests and clashes, Netanyahu attends festive event in central Israel moshav

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara ended up visiting a festive family event in Moshav Mazor in central Israel, after hundreds of anti-government protesters attempted to impose a self-described “siege” on the small community in demand for a hostage deal with Hamas.

Video shows the Netanyahus visiting the henna pre-marriage party of their son Avner, hosted by the family of the latter’s fiancée Amit Yardeni.

In a statement, the Prime Minister’s Office claims Netanyahu canceled his planned participation in a Mimouna party — marking the end of the weeklong festival of Passover — at Mazor, due to the incident in Gaza in which a soldier was killed and five were injured. However, the Mimouna and the henna appear to have been the same event, which the premier did attend.

ראש הממשלה נתניהו ורעייתו שרה באירוע החינה של בנם אבנר ובחירת ליבו.❤️❤️❤️שיהיה להם שמח כל חייהם ❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/0AsvyUU8zw

— Shoula Romano-Horing???????????????????????? (@RomanoHoring) April 19, 2025

There was heavy police presence in Mazor throughout the evening, with cops closing its area and working to prevent protesters from blocking access into the small community, and sometimes clashing with them.