During protest rally for hostages, former Shin Bet chief calls for 'non-violent revolt' against coalition government

Several thousand people gathered in Tel Aviv's Habima Square on Saturday evening for a demonstration against the coalition government and for the release of the hostages.

Meanwhile, at another demonstration near the Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv, thousands also gathered to call for the release of the hostages.

Among the speakers at the “Free our Land” demonstration against the government in Habima Square were former Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Dan Halutz and former Shin Bet chief Ami Ayalon. In his remarks, Ayalon cited the affidavit submitted by current Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar, and called for “nonviolent revolt against the government.”  

The former Shin Bet head referred to several recent developments in the story of the conflict between current Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. 

“The affidavit submitted this [past] week by Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar to the High Court of Justice is a defining event in our struggle for Israel's Jewish democratic identity!” Ayalon said. 

“Anyone who has read the brief sees and understands that the black flag that obliges us not to obey has already been raised when the Prime Minister makes it clear to the Shin Bet chief that in the moment of truth he must obey the government and not the court's ruling,” Ayalon continued, referring to Bar’s claim that Netanyahu demanded loyalty to him and not the High Court of Justice. 

The term 'black flag' entered the Israeli lexicon after a 1957 Supreme Court ruling on the Kafr Qasem massacre, in which Israeli Border Police killed 47 Arab civilians who unknowingly violated a curfew. The court stated that soldiers must refuse to obey orders that are "manifestly unlawful" – orders so clearly illegal or immoral that they raise a "black flag" of illegality, signaling a moral and legal duty to disobey. 

Former IDF Chief of Staff Halutz also attacked the prime minister at a demonstration in Tel Aviv, saying, "The defendant Benjamin Netanyahu is a clear, tangible and immediate threat to the existence of the State of Israel. He is fighting his own citizens and ostensibly cooperating, through his office, with a terrorist state – Qatar,” referring to the Qatargate scandal being investigated by the Shin Bet. 

“Every citizen must demand an answer to the question – is there treason from within the holy of holies of the State of Israel?” Halutz asked. 

Ayalon also mentioned the Qatargate investigation, saying that Netanyahu, “instead of demanding that the investigation be continued, sides with those being investigated and dismisses the Shin Bet chief.” 

“Take to the streets, stop the country,” Ayalon encouraged the crowds. “Non-violent civilian revolt is the civic duty of every citizen.” 

Later in the evening, the two protest groups joined together, calling for the release of the remaining hostages. 

Ruhama Albag, whose niece Liri was one of the female observers released in the January hostage-ceasefire deal, criticized the attitude of many government ministers towards the hostages, accusing them of neglect. 

She also stated that if the war continues, the upcoming Memorial Day on Wednesday “will be your disgrace and infamy.” 

“End this blood-soaked war,” said Albag. “If not, this Memorial Day will be your disgrace and infamy.” 

After pictures of a protester dressed as a hostage, wearing “bloody” bandages and surrounded by rubber masks of Netanyahu were shared online, the Tikvah Forum condemned the “clear and dangerous representations of murder.” 

The group accused the protesters of using the hostage issue as an attempt to overthrow the government. 

“This needs to be said in a clear voice,” the Forum wrote. “The severed heads, as well as the protests today, have nothing to do with the hostages. On the contrary, these are people who decided to sacrifice the hostages in an attempt to overthrow the government.” 

Sigalit Hillel, the mother of Uri Tchernichovsky, who was murdered at the Nova party, also spoke at the protests, calling on the crowds to “do everything” to bring the hostages home. 

"Twenty-four abductees are still alive and breathing, let's do everything together so that the joyous sights of their abducted loved ones returning home will be theirs," Hillel said.

While continuing to speak, Hillel burst into tears, and the audience cried out in support, "You are not alone, we are with you."