logo
Bereaved October 7 families clash with guards in Israel's parliament (VIDEO)

Bereaved October 7 families clash with guards in Israel's parliament (VIDEO)

Russia Today05-03-2025
A confrontation between bereaved parents of victims of the October 7 terrorist attack on Israel and security at the nation's parliament, the Knesset, has left two people injured, the Jerusalem Post has reported. The scuffle ensued after families sought to observe a debate on Monday concerning the establishment of a commission of inquiry into the tragedy, but were barred from entering the visitors seating area.
The parents, representing the October Council – an NGO advocating for 1,500 families affected by the tragedy – had previously sent a letter to Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana requesting access to the session, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was scheduled to attend. Despite this, Knesset guards and police officers prevented the families from ascending the staircase leading to the visitors section, citing limited seating availability.
The situation escalated into a physical altercation, reportedly resulting in at least two people sustaining injuries after falling during the scuffle. In protest, the families gathered at the base of the staircase, reciting the Kaddish – a Jewish prayer of mourning – while displaying placards bearing images of their deceased loved ones, the Post reported.
Subsequently, the families were granted access to the chamber under strict supervision. During Netanyahu's address, they reportedly stood and turned their backs to him, holding up photographs of their lost relatives. Speaker Ohana initially ordered their removal but later rescinded the directive.
אין גבול לזוועה ולבושה מתמונות אנשי משמר הכנסת הודפים בכוח משפחות שכולות ממחדל השבעה באוקטובר, לחרפה הזו שותף אמיר אוחנה. אין מי שביזה את מוסד יו״ר הכנסת יותר ממנו pic.twitter.com/wXRwefxnrQ
Netanyahu has faced criticism over his handling of the hostage crisis, with some families accusing him of prioritizing military objectives over the safe return of the captives.
A ceasefire with Hamas was implemented in mid-January following 15 months of intense fighting that caused heavy casualties and extensive destruction in Gaza. The agreement outlines a phased exchange of hostages and prisoners, ensures the delivery of humanitarian aid, and is expected to lead to Israel's withdrawal from the territory.
In the first phase of the deal, Hamas released 33 Israeli hostages, including the bodies of those deceased, in exchange for roughly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Fifty-nine hostages remain in Gaza, with Israeli assessments indicating that 24 of them are still alive.
On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an attack on Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people and abducting around 250 others. In response, Israeli troops invaded Gaza, leaving nearly 47,000 Palestinians dead, according to the territory's health authorities.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Over 1,000 rabbis accuse Israel of weaponizing hunger
Over 1,000 rabbis accuse Israel of weaponizing hunger

Russia Today

time12 hours ago

  • Russia Today

Over 1,000 rabbis accuse Israel of weaponizing hunger

More than 1,000 rabbis from around the world have accused Israel of weaponizing hunger in Gaza and urged West Jerusalem to allow aid into the to UN Palestinian refugee agency chief Philippe Lazzarini, around 90,000 women and children are suffering from malnutrition in what relief groups describe as a man-made famine caused by the Israeli and Jewish scholars from the US, UK, EU, and Israel signed an open letter declaring that the Jewish people 'face a grave moral crisis.''The severe limitation placed on humanitarian relief in Gaza, and the policy of withholding food, water, and medical supplies from a needy civilian population, contradict essential values of Judaism as we understand it,' the letter rabbis called on Israel to allow 'extensive humanitarian aid' while preventing diversion to Hamas and demanded that Israel 'work urgently by all routes possible to bring home all the hostages and end the fighting.' The letter, published on Friday, surpassed 1,000 signatures by early Monday. Jonathan Wittenberg, a UK-based rabbi, told The Jewish Chronicle last week that he was leading a campaign to break through 'the callous indifference to starvation' and appeal to 'the moral reputation not just of Israel, but of Judaism itself.'Israel has blamed poor international coordination and Hamas, which it accuses of stealing food and attacking distribution points. Israeli officials argue that the armed group is using the 'famine narrative' as leverage in hostage Jerusalem has pledged to 'improve the humanitarian response,' resuming food airdrops and implementing 'tactical pauses' over the weekend to allow more than 100 trucks to deliver supplies to Gaza. Lazzarini, however, dismissed the measures as 'a smokescreen,' accusing Israel of 'whitewashing its image.' He insisted that Israel should instead unblock access for 6,000 aid trucks waiting to enter the enclave.

Israel to ‘do in Gaza what we did in Tokyo and Berlin'
Israel to ‘do in Gaza what we did in Tokyo and Berlin'

Russia Today

time17 hours ago

  • Russia Today

Israel to ‘do in Gaza what we did in Tokyo and Berlin'

West Jerusalem is about to take the Gaza Strip under its full control, US Senator Lindsey Graham has said. Israel will establish long-term occupation of the Palestinian enclave as the US itself did in parts of Germany and Japan after the World War II, the lawmaker told NBC News on Sunday. No other solution but occupation would satisfy the Israeli leadership, the senator believes. West Jerusalem came to a conclusion 'that they can't achieve a goal of ending the war with Hamas that would be satisfactory to the safety of Israel,' according to Graham. Washington also allegedly came 'to believe, there's no way you're going to negotiate an end of this war with Hamas,' the senator stated as the US-mediated peace process between Israel and the Gaza-based Hamas militant group got stalled. 'They're going to do in Gaza what we did in Tokyo and Berlin, take the place by force and start over again,' Graham said, referring to alleged Israeli plans. West Jerusalem could also offer Hamas fighters a safe passage out of the enclave in exchange for the hostages' release, he added. Earlier this week, US Middle East special envoy Steve Witkoff said that Washington had decided to bring its negotiating team home for consultations and accused Hamas of lacking a desire to reach a ceasefire with Israel. A US-backed deal would have involved a 60-day truce during which Hamas would release ten living hostages and the remains of 18 more in phases, in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. The talks have stalled over conflicting demands on how to end the war. Hamas has insisted on a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza as West Jerusalem has refused to end its campaign until the militant group relinquishes power and disarms. The conflict started in October 2023 after a Hamas incursion into southern Israel that killed 1,200 people. Since then, over 59,000 Palestinians have been killed, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Reports about Israeli plans to permanently occupy Gaza and resettle its estimated 2.3 million-strong population elsewhere have repeatedly emerged as the hostilities continued.

Israel has to ‘get rid' of Hamas
Israel has to ‘get rid' of Hamas

Russia Today

time2 days ago

  • Russia Today

Israel has to ‘get rid' of Hamas

US President Donald Trump has said that Israel will have to drive Hamas out of Gaza, as ceasefire talks have once again stalled. The president said the Palestinian militants have not negotiated in good faith and are using the remaining Israeli hostages as leverage. He stated that West Jerusalem must 'clean it up' and 'get rid' of the group. 'Hamas didn't really want to make a deal. I think they want to die, and it's very bad. It got to a point where you have to finish the job,' Trump told reporters on Friday before departing for a trip to Scotland. 'Now they are going to be hunted down,' he added. Israel recalled its team from indirect talks in Qatar earlier this week. Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, accused Hamas of showing 'a lack of desire to reach a ceasefire' and said the US would 'consider alternative options' to free the hostages and 'create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza.'Israeli officials have long insisted that their objective is to completely eliminate Hamas from the Palestinian enclave. However, The New York Times cited three officials as saying the withdrawal from negotiations did not signal a collapse of the talks. Hamas said it was 'surprised' by Witkoff's remarks, claiming it had 'submitted its final response' to Israel's terms. Both sides have blamed each other for the failure to reach a breakthrough since the two-month truce expired in March. The UN and aid organizations have renewed calls for Israel to allow more food and essential supplies into Gaza, describing the situation as a 'man-made' famine in the densely populated enclave. Israel has said it is committed to increasing aid, but through channels that bypass Hamas, which it accuses of hoarding food.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store