Netanyahu asks forgiveness from hostages' families as unrest sweeps the country (2024)

Netanyahu speaks amid Israeli protests for a cease-fire deal

Reporting from Tel Aviv

At least six people were arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct as thousands demonstrated on the streets of Jerusalem, police in Israel said.

The forces increased the number of officers on the streets ahead of the demonstrations, a spokesperson for the force said in a statement.

The spokesperson added that some of the protesters crossed "the fences of the approved protest compound ... confronting the police, and lighting flares."

Reporting from Washington

Biden may offer a final “take it or leave it” deal to Israel and Hamas as soon as this week in hope of reaching a cease-fire agreement, two people briefed on the discussions told NBC News.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan also suggested the move as an option during a virtual meeting with U.S. hostage families yesterday, said the sources, who were not authorized to speak publicly.

Asked by reporters earlier whether he was prepared to present that kind of proposal in the coming days, Biden replied: “We’re very close to that.”

Biden, along with Vice President Kamala Harris, met in the Situation Room with the U.S. hostage deal negotiation team today.

Reporting from Tel Aviv

Netanyahu has insisted Israel will maintain a presence in the strategic corridor on Gaza’s border with Egypt.

"The first crack in Hamas' position came when we took control of Rafah and the Philadelphi Route," he said at a news conference, adding that the route's "importance is immense."

He added that there would be "immense international pressure" on Israel to hand control of the corridor back to Palestinians, but Israel's presence there was "a strategic political matter.”

"If we leave the Philadelphi Route for 42 days, there will be no problem smuggling hostages from there," he said.

Reporting from Tel Aviv

Netanyahu said today he had spoken to the families of several hostages and asked for their forgiveness.

“I told the families I ask for your forgiveness that we were not able to bring them back alive,” he said at a rare news conference. “Israel will not move on from the murder of our hostages. Hamas will pay a heavy price.”

Netanyahu added that “the first condition for winning this existential war is unity among us."

"We need to stand together against a common enemy that wants to destroy all of us — religious and secular, Jews and non-Jews, left and right,” he said.

Reporting from Tel Aviv

Israel's defense minister said that he was "deeply disheartened" by Britain's decision to suspend around 30 export licenses for military equipment.

Yoav Gallant said on X that Israel is fighting a war on seven different fronts.

"I stand by our troops and security agencies working with immense courage, professionalism and moral values. We remain committed to defending the state of Israel and her people," he said.

Suspected attacks by Yemen’s Houthi rebels targeted two ships in the Red Sea today, authorities said, near where crews hope to salvage a tanker loaded with oil that is still ablaze after another assault by the group.

Ballistic missiles hit the Panama-flagged oil tanker Blue Lagoon I, and a third exploded near the ship, said the multination Joint Maritime Information Center overseen by the U.S. Navy. “All crew on board are safe (no injury reported),” the center said. “The vessel sustained minimal damage but does not require assistance.”

Later, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported a second attack off the Houthi-controlled port city of Hodeida. The private security firm Ambrey said an aerial drone hit a merchant ship, though no damage or injuries were reported.

Meanwhile, the efforts to salvage the still-burning Sounion seek to head off the potential ecological disaster posed by its cargo of 1 million barrels of crude oil.

Biden said he met in the White House Situation Room with the American hostage deal negotiation team today.

Reporting from Tel Aviv

A hostage family advocacy group commended Biden and his administration for their attempts to secure the release of those who remain in Hamas' captivity.

"We urge Prime Minister Netanyahu to demonstrate similar resilience, determination, and commitment to the lives of the hostages," the Hostages and Missing Families Forum headquarters said in a statement.

"The Israeli public spoke loudly yesterday when over half-a-million people filled the streets, demonstrating their support for a deal that would bring the hostages home. This deal represents not only the best chance to save lives but also the only path toward a better future for the entire region," the statement said.

"The people of Israel will not allow the nearly 11-month neglect of the hostages to continue," the statement added. "Every day could be their last, as the execution of six hostages in the past few days has shown us."

Reporting from London

Britain will suspend some arms sales to Israel after a review found there was a "clear risk" that the weapons would be used in a way that could breach international law, the country's foreign minister said today.

The United Kingdom will be suspending 30 out of 350 arms export licenses to Israel, David Lammy told Parliament.

"Facing a conflict such as this, it is this government's legal duty to review Britain's export licenses," he said. "This is not a blanket ban, this is not an arms embargo."

After the bodies of six hostages were retrieved this weekend, 101 people remain in captivity, seven of whom are Americans, according to Israeli tallies. However 35 of them are believed to be dead.

Since the Oct. 7 attack, 154 hostages have been either freed as part of an exhange for Palestinian prisoners or rescued.

Hersh Goldberg-Polin's father remembered his son as someone who sought ways to make the world better.

"The 23 years of life that we had with you were a blessing," Jon Polin said at Hersh's funeral in Jerusalem. "We now will now work to make your legacy a similar blessing. You were a really great guy. I love you."

The mother of Israeli American hostageHersh Goldberg-Polinspoke through her tears at her son's funeral this afternoon, saying he was finally free and they will have to learn to live without him.

“For 23 years, I was privileged to have the most stunning honor to be Hersch’s mama. I’ll take it and say thank you. I just wish that it would have been for longer," Rachel Goldberg-Polin said, her voice breaking.

Goldberg-Polin became the voice and face of the campaign to bring the hostages back, having addressed the United Nations and met with Pope Francis in her quest to bring her son back home.

"Amidst the inexplicable terror, anguish, desperation and fear, we became absolutely certain that you were coming home to us alive. But it was not to be," she said. "Now I no longer have to worry about you. I know you are no longer in danger."

Nearly11 months into a warthat hasleft the country isolatedanddeeply divided, Israel has erupted.

A nationwide strike threatened to bring the nation’s economy to a standstill on Monday aftersix hostages held in Gaza since Oct. 7 were found dead in the enclave, news that fueledmass protestsfeaturing hundreds of thousands of people in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and beyond.

The dramatic display of dissent disrupted flights, hospitals and banks in an angry escalation of a monthslong campaign to pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a cease-fire deal with Hamas.

Despairing hostage families, large sections of the public and some of Netanyahu’s own ministers hoped the weekend’s events might force him to change course. But there was little immediate sign of that Monday,with the government winning its bid to force an early end to the general strike in Israel’s labor court.

Read the full story here.

In an emotional speech, Jon Polin said the world has failed his son.

"Hersh, we failed you. We have all failed you," Polin said, wearing sunglasses and a piece of tape to commemorate the number of days since Hersh became a hostage.

Polin said his son would be pushing for a cease-fire deal right now to ensure that his death and the deaths of others were not in vain. "Your starting point would be returning all of the hostages," he said.

"You are a really great guy," he added, saying that the 23 years of his life were a blessing and vowing to turn his legacy into a blessing,too.

President Joe Biden said today that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wasn't doing enough to secure a cease-fire deal that would ensure the release of hostages being held by Hamas in Gaza.

In response to a reporter's question, Biden also said a final deal was very close.

Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polinwas found dead in Gaza along with five other hostages last week.

He was taken hostage at the Supernova music festival in the early morning hours of the Hamas-led attack on Israel of Oct. 7.

Survivors and footage from the Hamas GoPro camera that was shared with the family revealed that Hersh had half of his left arm blown off before he was loaded into a truck and taken to Gaza.

His parents have made a myriad of public appearances and interviews with international media in their efforts to keep the plight of their son and other hostages at the top of the news agenda.

In April, Hamas released a video Goldberg-Polin, in which he angrily asked the Israeli government to bring home the hostages. It would become the first time and last time his family saw him since the kidnapping.

Jon Polin, left, father of Israeli-American hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin, is comforted on his way to his son’s funeral in Jerusalem today.Family members are driven to his funeral as they pass crowds of mourners waving Israeli flags.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog delivered a eulogy for Israeli-American hostageHersh Goldberg-Polinat his funeral in Jerusalem, attended by hundreds of people this afternoon.

Speaking in English after delivering his remarks in Hebrew, Herzog praised Rachel and Jon, Goldberg-Polin's parents, for teaching the world about human dignity after their relentless campaign to bring their son home.

"As the human being, as the father and as the president of the state of Israel, I want to say how sorry I am that we didn’t protect Hersh on that dark day, how sorry I am that we failed to bring him home. In his life and in his death, he touched all of humanity deeply," Herzog said.

Reporting from Tel Aviv

Jonathan Polin, Hersh Goldberg-Polin's father, is seen at the funeral wearing a piece of masking tape recording the days since Oct. 7 — the day Hamas terrorist maimed and took his son hostage.

Hundreds of mourners marched at the beginning of a funeral procession for Hersh Goldberg-Polin alongside family members of the slain hostage.

A large crowd gathered for the funeral of Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, whose body was discovered along with five other hostages in Gaza last week.

Some of those waiting outside Har Hamenuchot cemetery, Jerusalem's largest, waved Israeli flags and those of Hapoel Tel Aviv Football Club, of which Hersh was a fan.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog is expected to deliver a eulogy after an invitation from his family, his spokesperson said.

Hersh's parents, Jon and Rachel, led a tireless and very public campaign to free their son and other hostages.

Foreign MinisterIsrael Katzhas vowed that Israel will respond "with full force" after the Israeli army recovered the bodies of six hostages in Gaza last week.

"The Hamas terror organization brutally executed six hostages to instill fear and attempt to fracture Israeli society," Katz wrote in a post on X this morning. "Israel will respond with full force to this heinous crime. Hamas is responsible and will pay the full price."

The Israeli Health Ministry said yesterday that the six hostages were killed by Hamas "in a number of short-range shots" just days before their bodies were found. Hamas has blamed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the U.S. for the hostages' deaths, alleging without evidence that the hostages were killed by the Israeli army’s bullets.

The parents of American-Israeli hostage Omer Neutra, who remains held in Gaza, told NBC's "TODAY" this morning that the news of the deaths of six hostages over the weekend came as a “devastating” blow.

Ronen and Orna Neutrasaid their son is almost the same age as Hersh Goldberg-Polin, whose body was among those retrieved by Israeli forces and whose parents led a tireless campaign to free their son and other hostages.

“To have this happen now, it shouldn’t have happened,” Orna Neutra said, adding that an earlier deal could have seen Hersh released as his arm was severed during the Oct. 7 attack, and he could have qualified for the next release of hostages.

“I think it’s time for action,” she added. “It’s been time for action for a long time now, and we’re just seeing the results of inactivity.”

A Tel Aviv court issued an injunction this afternoon to end the nationwide strike hours earlier than organizers planned.

"The court accepted our position and determined that the Histadrut’s strike was political and illegal," Finance Minister BezalelSmotrich wrote on X, referring to the country's largest labor union.

Israeli media reported that the court ordered the strike to end at 2:30 p.m. local time (7:30 a.m. ET).

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid attends a rally in Tel Aviv today, calling for the release of hostages held in Gaza by Hamas since Oct. 7.

Around 87,000 children received a lifesaving polio vaccine on the first day of a mass effort to stop the spread of the virus inside Gaza, according to numbers provided by the United Nations agencyfor Palestinian refugees, UNRWA.

The agency said it was administering the vaccine in the middle area of the Gaza Strip. "We are doing everything possible to help all children under 10 years of age receive the vaccination," it said in a post on X.

The Gaza Health Ministry also said last night that at least 72,611 children had been vaccinated on the first day.

Israel and Hamas have agreed to three separate, zoned three-day pauses infighting in Gaza toallow for the vaccinationof some 640,000 children, the World Health Organization said last week.

It came after a baby was partially paralyzed by the type 2 polio virus last month in the first such case in the territory in 25 years.

Tens of thousands of people took to the streets last night and more protests were planned today alongside the general strike, as frustration builds with the failure by the Israeli government to reach a cease-fire deal, after the deaths of six hostages in captivity in Gaza.

In what appears to be the largest public outpouring of anger and grief in Israel the 11 months of war, demonstrations took place in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and other cities across the country.

In Jerusalem, protesters blocked streets and demonstrated outside the prime minister’s residence. Aerial footage showed Tel Aviv’s main highway filled with protesters holding flags with pictures of the slain hostages.

The families of the hostages urged the general public to join more protests across Israel today "calling for an immediate deal."

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has demanded an injunction to stop the nationwide strike today that is to pressure the Israeli government into reaching a cease-fire deal to return hostages remaining in Gaza.

In a post on X, Smotrich said he had approached Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, arguing that the "political strike" had no legal standing.

Histadrut, Israel’s biggest trade union, ordered the nationwide strike, with the action expected to last at least one day and shut down much of the country’s economy.

Smotrich said a directive has been issued that any employees who do not show up for work will not receive payment.

"We will not allow the leaders of the Histadrut to turn the country upside down and use workers as a weapon to promote their political views," Smotrich wrote.

Reporting from Tel Aviv

Aviva Siegel, 63, who was rescued in a prisoner swap last year, told NBC News last night that news of the hostages’ deaths made her “just so sad. I was broken up into pieces. I could not stop crying and shaking. ... It just seems the cruelest thing that could happen.”

Her husband, Keith Siegel, 65, an American like Goldberg-Polin, remains in captivity. She spoke about how she had been looking forward to meeting Goldberg-Polin after having spent so much time with his family.

“It should not have happened,” Siegel said of the hostage deaths.

She said she is keeping hope that her husband is strong and will make it out alive, because “if I don’t, I won’t be able to survive.”

His daughter, Elan Tiv, 33, said she wishes her father could see all of the people coming out to demand the hostages be brought home.

“I want to ask the Biden administration to see that Netanyahu is not doing his job. Netanyahu is killing my dad. Netanyahu is killing the hostages,” she said. She asked Biden to “use his good power to be a leader.”

She called on Netanyahu to “let someone else do the most important mission and bring the hostages home and get this war to a finish.”

The chair of Histadrut, Israel's biggest trade union, has said today's strike was needed to "shake things up" and push Israeli leadership to reach a cease-fire deal with Hamas.

“I refuse to remain indifferent to the fact that our beloved country is becoming a country that abandons its people,” Arnon Bar-David said in a speech to thousands of Israelis who gathered at a rally yesterday in Tel Aviv. “A deal must be reached; this is the most important thing."

In an earlier meeting, Bar-David said he believed Israel was "in a downward spiral" and that "only a strike will shake things up," according to a news release shared online by Histadrut.

During his speech, he also warned of the impact Israel's continued war in Gaza was having on the country's economy as he expressed fears of a future "mass economic collapse" that "future generations" may have to pay for.

Reporting from London

Israelis have launched the country's first nationwide general strike since Oct. 7, amid widespread fury over the government's failure to agree to a Gaza cease-fire deal after the bodies of six hostages were found in the enclave over the weekend.

Histadrut, Israel's biggest trade union, ordered the nationwide strike from 6 a.m. local time, with the action expected to last at least one day and shut down much of the country's economy.

The strike is expected to shut government offices, schools and private businesses, while flights were also briefly halted from Israel's international airport.

The strike is expected to bring much of Israel's economy to a grinding halt as Netanyahu faces mounting pressure to strike a deal with Hamas that would secure the release of hostages who remain held in Gaza and bring Israel's deadly offensive in the enclave to an end.

Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets of Tel Aviv last night, an eruption of anger over the killings of the hostages and the Israeli government's failure to agree to a cease-fire deal with Hamas that could secure the release of the remaining captives in Gaza.

Raf Sanchez

Matt Bradley

Raf Sanchez and Matt Bradley

Reporting from Tel Aviv

A global outpouring of grief and anger erupted after the bodies of six hostages were recovered by the Israel Defense Forces in a tunnel under the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

Among them was 23-year-old American-Israeli Hersh Goldberg-Polin, whose parents advocated for his return at last month’s Democratic National Convention. NBC News reports on the protests and growing questions over cease-fire negotiations.

• Hersh Goldberg-Polin, Israeli American whose family led calls for hostage deal, is killed in Gaza
• Politicians mourn hostages, express outrage at Hamas and renew calls for an end to the war
• Polio vaccinations arrive in Gaza, but the sanitation crisis remains