Police clear Ayalon freeway for second time; mother of hostage says time for deal is now

Police have managed to clear protesters from the Ayalon freeway in Tel Aviv after it was blocked for a second time by families of hostages and others supporting a deal to free captives, Channel 12 news reports.

Videos from the scene show at least one person appearing to be detained by police.

מקבץ סרטונים שמגיע מהחסימה באיילון לפני זמן קצר
באחד הסרטונים גם מעצר
דיווחים על שורה של מעצרים ברחבי הארץ בהפגנות הערב pic.twitter.com/LF8Hj6FV2v

— Or-ly Barlev ???? אור-לי ברלב (@orlybarlev) May 6, 2024

Protesters are demanding that Israel accept a deal offered by Hamas that would apparently free hostages in exchange for a ceasefire.

“The time has come to take the deal. The time has come for a ceasefire,” Einav Zangauker, mother of hostage Matan Zangauker, yells into a bullhorn from the roof of a car stopped on the highway. We won’t let them pass up the chance tonight.”

מתן בטוח שומע. pic.twitter.com/5LGBkXcBgH

— כולנו חטופים (@Kulanu_Hatufim) May 6, 2024

Zangauker, who has become a leading government critic,  tells channel 12 that the protests seen Monday night “are just the start.”