Four days of protests for elections, hostages kick off around the country

Protesters blocked highways across Israel Thursday morning, starting off the first of four straight days of protests and rallies planned to take place across the country. Protesters called for elections and for a hostage deal. The Ayalon Highway, Highway 2, and Highway 4 were blocked and protesters blocking Highway 4 near Natanya burned tires in the road.

Protests outside of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Azza street home were planned for Thursday evening. Protesters planned to first gather near the Knesset before marching to Netanyahu's home, stopping in Paris Square where protest leader Shikma Bressler was scheduled to speak before marchers continued on to Azza street.

Organizations involved in protests

Among organizations participating in the protest were women's protest Bonot Alternativa (Women Building an Alternative), The Academic Protest, Kaplan Force, Change Generation, Yom Kippur Fighters 73, The Black Flags, medical professional protest organization THe Whitecoats, and many more.

A "Mother's March," for the hostages was planned for Friday in Tel Aviv, organized by the Hostage Families Forum.

"Mother's and families of the hostages invite the public to march with them and cry out for the return of the 120 hostages who have been in Hamas captivity for nine months," said the forum adding that Israel must bring back all the hostages - "the living for rehabilitation and those murdered for proper burial in their country," said the forum.

Among other mothers and families of hostages participating, were Shira Albag, mother of captive Liri Albag; Nitza Korngold, mother of hostage Tal Shoham; and Ofri Bibas Levy, sister of captive Yarden Bibas whose young children and husband were taken hostage as well.

Regular, Saturday night rallies are planned to take place as usual around the country, and protest organizations called for a day of rage to take place Sunday.

"Less than a month is left until the Knesset's summer session ends. This is the last chance to go to elections that will save Israel," said protest organization The Day After on the day of rage.