Demonstrators called for an immediate end to Israeli military attacks and the siege on Gaza, and criticized the center-left wing political party Meretz for supporting Israel’s attacks on Gaza.

Israeli police officers were particularly harsh with demonstrators, five of whom were detained and subsequently released.

AIC Programme Director Sergio Yahni, one of the main organiser’s of the demonstration in Tel Aviv, noted that “last night’s demonstration was substantially larger than the first demonstration we organized against Israel’s 2006 war on Lebanon. People were truly horrified by Israel’s military attack on Gaza yesterday, and went out to the streets to show this.”

The Israeli Coalition against the Siege will be holding another demonstration this evening in Tel Aviv, and will be meeting tomorrow to strategically plan future actions.

Demonstrations against Israel’s assault on Gaza also occurred in Jerusalem. Demonstrators gathered in the Mount of Olives, Qalandiya, A-Ram, in Issawiya, on the main street in East Jerusalem —and in the Shuafat Refugee Camp. The demonstrators blocked roads, called out against the Israeli occupation and attacks on Gaza, and confronted Israeli soldiers who arrived to break up the demonstrations. Israeli soldiers stationed at a checkpoint in the Shuafat Refugee Camp ran away from the demonstrators. At least 3 Palestinians were injured by soldiers during the demonstrations.