After 24-hours, 'permanent encampment' of hostage families removed by Israel Police

Israel Police removed an encampment set up by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum near the Prime Minister’s Residence in Jerusalem on Tuesday morning.

The group had declared that the Gaza City conquest operation represented a “state of emergency.” 

The permanent encampment came after several members and supporters of the group began a protest outside Netanyahu’s Jerusalem residence on Monday night, after hearing reports of intense bombing in Gaza City, which indicated the start of the ground incursion into the stronghold of the final Hamas battalion in Gaza. 

During the night, hostage families set up tents outside the Prime Minister's residence on Azza Street in Jerusalem. pic.twitter.com/nXOGcsQIdx

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“Following reports of tank incursions and massive bombardments in Gaza City, hostage families, terrified for their loved ones’ fate, spontaneously gathered in the late night hours outside the Prime Minister’s Residence on Azza (Gaza) Street in Jerusalem, crying out for the rescue of their loved ones and all hostages,” the group said in a statement at that time. 

On Tuesday morning, the Forum said that it had received police permission to establish the encampment, vowing to remain “until Netanyahu listens and implements the people’s will – the immediate return of all hostages and an end to the war.” 

The Forum also published a call to action on its social media accounts, telling the Israeli public, "Come stand with us outside the Prime Minister's residence. The writing is on the wall! We cannot let the hostages and soldiers be sacrificed!” 

Einav Zangauker, who is the mother of hostage Matan Zangauker and has become a key figure in the hostage protests, pledged that if Netanyahu continued with his plan to “occupy Gaza,” the protesters would “occupy Azza Street” until the war ends. 

Maccabit Meir, the aunt of twin hostages Gali and Ziv Berman, castigated Netanyahu for the Gaza operation, saying it endangers the hostages. 

“Who are you bringing all these buildings down on?” she asked. “It could be that you’re bringing them down on Gali and Zivie, and on all the souls that remain there – alive and dead.” 

She also asked him why he won’t meet to talk with the hostage families. 

“You have nothing to be afraid of,” Meir said. “We are not guerrillas, we are tormented families. Come out and talk to us.” 

She also referenced the meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and several hostage families, saying, “Why do we need to talk to American officials? Why don't you come to talk to us?” 

However, around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday night, Israel Police began removing the protesters from the encampment, after a 24-hour presence at the site. 

The protesters had been planning to stay at the site for several days, however, the police removed the encampment and reopened the streets on Tuesday night. 

Hebrew media reported that some of the protesters left voluntarily, after being asked by police to disperse, while others were carried away by police officers. 

The dispersal came after several incidents in which hostage family members and protesters were shouted at by people passing by, especially drivers, who were apparently aggravated by the disruption to traffic in a neighborhood that contains many narrow, one-way streets. 

The closing off of the section of Azza Street in front of the Prime Minister’s Residence had led to traffic interruptions.

According to Ynet News, some of those incidents are being investigated as politically motivated threats.

The news site reported that in one incident, a motorcycle driver told protesters that they should receive “a bullet in the head, the punishment for traitors.” 

Israel Police stated that "an investigation has been opened into the matter.”