Protesters who had initially gathered outside The Jerusalem Post's Diplomatic Conference managed to push past security guards and enter the Friends of Zion Museum in Jerusalem on Tuesday morning, disrupting the high-profile event while carrying cardboard cutouts of hostages.
Conference organizers confirmed that the protesters began by standing on the opposite sidewalk, before moving towards the sidewalk on the side of the museum.
They then broke into the entrance hallway and cafe area of the museum, the organizers added.
It took police approximately 45 minutes to send enough officers to be able to handle the crowd, but protesters then left of their own accord, the organizers stated.
Witnesses reported that the protesters were holding cardboard representations of hostages and chanting slogans in Hebrew.
"Die lamilchama" (enough of the war), the protesters could be heard shouting, along with accusations that conference attendees are giving legitimacy to people who are continuing the war.
Security personnel caught off guard
Security personnel at the Friends of Zion Museum, located in the heart of Jerusalem, were caught off guard by the sudden influx of demonstrators who had managed to bypass the initial security checkpoint. The protesters appeared to be using the symbolic hostage cutouts to make a statement about ongoing war in Gaza.
Some protest groups have been referring to the event as a "Likud conference" in their communications, with some indication that protesters may be unsure what conference they are actually at.
The Jerusalem Post's Diplomatic Conference, which regularly features high-profile speakers from government and business sectors, had to temporarily halt proceedings as security worked to manage the situation.
The Friends of Zion Museum, which showcases the history of Christian support for Israel and the Jewish people, has previously hosted various diplomatic and cultural events.