Protesters block roads in Tel Aviv, Beersheba, after call by hostage families to take to streets

Following a call from the Hostages and Missing Families Forum to Israelis to take to the streets, crowds of Israelis are marching along Tel Aviv’s Dizengoff Street urging the release of the hostages.

The families forum issued a call about an hour ago for a mass march, from Hostages Square to the Begin Gate of the Kirya and to Dizengoff Street.

The Ynet news site reports that protesters have blocked traffic on the street and are calling on those sitting at bars to join them.

Elsewhere in Tel Aviv, protesters calling for a hostage deal circumvent police barricades and block the Ayalon Highway heading north.

Demonstrators block part of the Ayalon Highway in Tel Aviv on March 30, 2024 (Amir Goldstein / Pro-Democracy Protest Movement)

The Times of Israel witnesses two demonstrators being removed.

The police station a water cannon to the freeway and use horses to disperse protesters.

Protesters block Tel Aviv’s Ayalon Highway, March 30, 2024 (sha_b_p@ / Pro-Democracy Protest Movement)

In turn, demonstrators turn southward on the Ayalon and continue marching before eventually stopping and blocking off traffic.

במקביל להפגנה מול הקריה: מאות מפגינים בכיכר דיזנגוף בקריאה לשחרר את החטופים עכשיו@mayayahalom_ pic.twitter.com/MVvqtA0GP8

— גלצ (@GLZRadio) March 30, 2024

Police hold up several demonstrators and give out fines.

In the southern city of Beersheba, demonstrators are blocking Yitzhak Rager, the main road in the city, and call for the release of the hostages and immediate elections.

In a photo released by anti-government activists, protesters block the main road in Beersheba, calling for a hostage deal and elections now, March 30, 2024. (Tanya Zion-Waldoks)