Israeli activists stage more ‘day of disruption’ protests as IDF begins early stages of Gaza City operation

Hostage families launched renewed protests in Jerusalem on Wednesday morning, pressing the government to secure the return of those still held captive.

Groups of protesters gathered in front of the homes of government ministers outside the Knesset, on the roof of the National Library – and even blocked roads – calling for a "day of disruption." 

Around 8 a.m., demonstrators set fire to tires and dumpsters at several sites across Jerusalem, including the Rehavia and Givat Ram neighborhoods. One blaze spread to a car near Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s official residence.

The vehicle belonged to Tamar Bar-Shai, a mother of three whose husband is currently serving on reserve duty.

“All of our baby seats were burned, including all the equipment in the car,” Bar-Shai said. “My husband is in Order 8 [reserve call-up orders]. I have no idea how, in a week's time, when he is in the reserves, I will drive children to [educational] frameworks. Just two days ago, we invested in the car and re-equipped it. Good luck to bringing my daughter to kindergarten every morning alone without a car.” 

Israel Police Commissioner Daniel Levy instructed the Jerusalem District commander to “take all necessary actions to arrest the person who carried out the arson.” 

In a statement, the police condemned the protesters responsible for the fires, saying, “These acts are not carried out by demonstrators, but by lawbreakers who behave like criminals. There is a crossing of a red line here, and there is no connection between it and a protest as a matter of law.” 

“The right to protest does not grant the right to set property on fire or cause economic and health damage to the public,” the statement continued. 

Conservative journalist Amit Segal posted a sarcastic statement on 𝕏: “There is no effective protest without a disruption of the public order.” 

אין מחאה אפקטיבית בלי הפרעה לסדר הציבורי pic.twitter.com/xBjZvZojOc

— עמית סגל (@amit_segal) September 3, 2025

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, whose office has oversight of the police, called the burnings “terrorist arson” in a statement blaming Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. 

“The wave of terrorist arson attacks this morning near the Prime Minister's house in the Rehavia neighborhood - backed and encouraged by the criminal attorney general who wants to burn the country down,” Ben Gvir statedon social media. 

The hostilities were also condemned by opposition politicians, including leader Yair Lapid.  

“I condemn the torching of vehicles in Jerusalem, but I condemn much more a government that abandons hostages to their deaths in Gaza,” Lapid wrote on 𝕏. 

Opposition politician Benny Gantz, head of the Blue and White party, also condemned the arson “any form of violence.” 

“The protests and solidarity with the families of the hostages today are a democratic right and a moral duty of every citizen – burning vehicles and any form of violence, by an unrepresentative minority, does not advance the return of the hostages and only harms the determined and important public struggle,” Gantz stated. 

Right-wing opposition politician Avigdor Liberman stated, “I support the families of the hostages and support their right to demonstrate. However, the case of vandalism perpetrated by a handful of extremists is serious and unacceptable. I call on the law authorities to bring the rioters to justice.” 

Following the arson that destroyed the vehicle, protest leaders said their demonstrations were not scheduled to begin until the afternoon and denied any involvement in the incident.

Meanwhile, one protester who went up on the roof of the National Library told Kan News, “We must do something extreme so that someone remembers: there is no such thing as a state abandoning its citizens.” 

He explained why he was protesting on the roof and said, “The National Library overlooks the Knesset, we want them to see us.” 

The Wednesday morning protests came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir made statements yesterday affirming Israel’s commitment to waging the war “until we defeat this enemy.” 

The IDF recently launched the largest call-up of reservists since the Gaza War began, distributing summons to approximately 60,000 reservists. The military has also begun moving armored and infantry units into position around Gaza City, in preparation for the official start of operations.

Zamir had previously warned of the risk to the lives of the hostages if the IDF carried out the operation to take over Gaza City. 

“There's a deal on the table, it's the improved Witkoff plan,” Zamir reportedly told the Cabinet last week. “It has to be taken. The IDF brought the conditions for a hostage deal; now it's in Netanyahu's hands. There is a great risk to the lives of the captives in the occupation of Gaza City.”