Major highways blocked across Israel by hostage protests, IDF strikes Houthi energy infrastructure

Opposition MKs call on Israeli public to join hostage families • Police arrest 32 across Israel, use water cannons in Jerusalem • IDF inches closer to Gaza City before occupation

Protesters block a road in Jerusalem during a protest calling for the release of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, August 17, 2025.

(photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

August 17, 5:38 PM

Actress Gal Gadot arrives at Hostages Square, meets with hostage families

ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

August 17, 5:21 PM

IDF chief in Gaza: Operation 'Gideon's Chariots' enters next phase, will defeat Hamas

ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

August 17, 4:50 PM

Hamas rejects Israel's Gaza relocation plan, planned deployment of tents and shelter

ByREUTERS

August 17, 3:16 PM

Police use water cannons to disperse protesters in Jerusalem

BySARAH BEN-NUN, HODAYA RAN, JERUSALEM POST STAFF

Police use water cannons to clear protesters calling for the release of the Gaza hostages, Jerusalem, August 17, 2025 (credit: Meshanim Kivun).

August 17, 2:35 PM

Gaza aid: COGAT says 2,250 trucks entered enclave last week

ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

August 17, 2:31 PM

'Pogroms in support of Hamas have begun': Ministers slam hostage families strike

More than 300 demonstrations are expected throughout the day as hostages families try to bring the nation to a standstill.

ByKESHET NEEV, JERUSALEM POST STAFF

Israeli police officers try to move the demonstrators blocking a road during a protest, after families of hostages called for a nationwide strike to demand the return of all hostages and an end to the war in Gaza, in Jerusalem, August 17, 2025.

(photo credit: REUTERS/Ronen Zvulun)

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August 17, 2:19 PM

Protesters calling for hostage deal block Highway 1 from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv

ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Highway 1 from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem blocked by protesters calling for the release of the hostages in Gaza, August 17, 2025 (Abraham Adivy).

August 17, 1:55 PM

Hostage protests: One man arrested, released, two drivers attack protesters

At around 8 a.m., a truck driver stepped out of his vehicle near the Ra'anana junction and violently hit a protester, who left bleeding from his nose.

BySARAH BEN-NUN, HODAYA RAN

Israelis block road 1 near Latrun, while attending a protest calling for the release of the Israeli hostages held by Hamas in Gaza, August 17, 2025.

(photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

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August 17, 1:31 PM

Indonesia to begin airdropping aid into Gaza Stip as IDF expands operations

Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim country, will be one of 11 countries to have executed aid drops in Gaza, with the coordination request specifically coming from within the political echelon.

ByJERUSALEM POST STAFF

Jordanian and UAE planes drop humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip on July 27, 2025. Earlier in the day, Israel announced tactical pauses and its first airdrops of aid.

(photo credit: TPS-IL)

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August 17, 1:23 PM

One man arrested in hostage protests in Ness Ziona

BySARAH BEN-NUN

Important facts

Hamas launched a massive attack on October 7, with thousands of terrorists infiltrating from the Gaza border and taking some 240 hostages into Gaza.
Over 1,200 Israelis and foreign nationals were murdered, including over 350 at the Supernova music festival and hundreds of Israeli civilians across the Gaza border communities.
50 hostages remain in Gaza, while 49 hostages in total have been killed in captivity.
The IDF launched large-scale attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities on June 13, 2025.
Israel struck key nuclear sites and killed senior Iranian military and IRGC officials.
28 Israelis killed, over 1,300 wounded, including several IDF soldiers, in Iranian attacks.

Major highways blocked across Israel by hostage protests, IDF strikes Houthi energy infrastructure

Opposition MKs call on Israeli public to join hostage families • Police arrest 32 across Israel, use water cannons in Jerusalem • IDF inches closer to Gaza City before occupation

Actress Gal Gadot arrives at Hostages Square, meets with hostage families

IDF chief in Gaza: Operation 'Gideon's Chariots' enters next phase, will defeat Hamas

Hamas rejects Israel's Gaza relocation plan, planned deployment of tents and shelter

Police use water cannons to disperse protesters in Jerusalem

Gaza aid: COGAT says 2,250 trucks entered enclave last week

'Pogroms in support of Hamas have begun': Ministers slam hostage families strike

More than 300 demonstrations are expected throughout the day as hostages families try to bring the nation to a standstill.

Protesters calling for hostage deal block Highway 1 from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv

Hostage protests: One man arrested, released, two drivers attack protesters

At around 8 a.m., a truck driver stepped out of his vehicle near the Ra'anana junction and violently hit a protester, who left bleeding from his nose.

Indonesia to begin airdropping aid into Gaza Stip as IDF expands operations

Indonesia, a predominantly Muslim country, will be one of 11 countries to have executed aid drops in Gaza, with the coordination request specifically coming from within the political echelon.

One man arrested in hostage protests in Ness Ziona

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