‘Shame On You’ – Protesters Interrupt Netanyahu’s Speech During Memorial Ceremony

Israeli protesters disrupted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech at a memorial honouring the victims of the October 7 attack as ceasefire discussions for Gaza resumed in Doha, Qatar.

During the ceremony on Sunday, Netanyahu stood at the podium as audience members shouted over him for more than a minute, with some yelling “Shame on you” and creating a disturbance that forced him to halt his remarks shortly after they began. One protester cried out, “My father was killed.”

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The Times of Israel reported that bereaved family members were initially not allowed to speak during the commemoration due to concerns they might voice criticism of the Israeli government. However, in light of the protests, the families were eventually permitted to deliver their speeches.

On October 7 last year, approximately 1,139 people were killed in Israel during attacks led by Hamas, with over 200 taken captive; nearly 100 of those captives are still in Gaza. There has been increasing public and diplomatic pressure on Netanyahu’s administration to secure a deal for the release of those still held.

In a related development, Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi proposed a two-day truce in Gaza to facilitate the exchange of four Israeli captives for Palestinian prisoners. He announced this while alongside Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune at a news conference in Cairo, emphasizing that talks should resume within ten days of the truce to work toward a permanent ceasefire.

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Families of the remaining captives, along with several Western leaders, are urging the Israeli government to negotiate an agreement following the recent killing of Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar.

Al Jazeera’s Osama bin Javaid reported from Doha that Sinwar’s death has opened a new window for ceasefire negotiations, but both sides appear entrenched. He noted that Hamas asserts the removal of its leadership does not diminish its struggle against what it calls “illegal occupation.”

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