Major roads closed across Israel as hostage families, protesters take to the streets

Protesters block the Yakum Junction area along Route 2 as they demand an agreement to free the hostages and end the war in Gaza, on August 26, 2025. (Idit Avishay/Pro-Democracy Protest Movement)
Protesters block the Yakum Junction area along Route 2 as they demand an agreement to free the hostages and end the war in Gaza, on August 26, 2025. (Idit Avishay/Pro-Democracy Protest Movement)

Major roads are blocked across Israel as protesters take to the streets to demand the release of the hostages and an end to the war in Gaza.

Route 2, also known as the Coastal Highway, is closed to traffic around Yakum Junction, north of Tel Aviv, after protesters light a fire in the middle of the road.

Sections of Route 1 and Route 443, both of which connect Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, are also closed to traffic.

Route 40 is closed to traffic around the Na’an Junction on the outskirts of Rehovot. Protesters there are joined by Yotam Cohen, the brother of hostage soldier Nimrod Cohen.

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