KEY INSIGHTS
Since the October 7 terror attack in Israel, the subsequent hostage crisis, and the Gaza conflict, protest activity has become endemic nationwide. Protests and strikes have varied in size, with large-scale demonstrations causing significant disruptions and the occasional risk of violence. Looking ahead, concern is growing among Israeli citizens that the National Security Minister will introduce draconian legislation to limit protest activity, a move that could trigger further disruptive protests and create internal instability.
KEY EVENTS
August 2025: Israeli National Security Minister, Itamar Ben Gvir, threatened to introduce new policies to prohibit protesters from blocking highways and require protesters to obtain approval from the police in order to block roads within cities.
August 2025: Thousands of Israelis took the streets in a nationwide protest to end the conflict in Gaza and return the hostages.
October 2023: The first protests calling for the government to return hostages taken by Hamas took place.
Since October 2023, there have been over 2,000 protest incidents across Israel related to the hostage situation or the conflict in Gaza.
ANALYSIS
Since the October 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel, which triggered the large-scale Gaza conflict and the taking of 251 hostages, protest and civil unrest have become persistent domestic issues. Between October 2023 and August 2025, about 2,000 protest incidents occurred. Large-scale and disruptive protests typically follow shifts in the conflict or changes in hostage negotiations.
Almost immediately after the October 7 attack, the organized movement “Bring Them Home Now” staged weekly rallies in Tel Aviv, especially near the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) headquarters. Hostages Square soon became the symbolic epicenter. Demonstrations have since spread across the country and grown in frequency. At least 40 disruptive protests have blocked the Ayalon Highway. Protesters typically unfurl banners and obstruct traffic; in some cases, they light fires, sparking confrontation from police who forcibly remove protesters.
National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir intends to introduce policies to limit disruptive activity by banning the blocking of major roads and expanding police powers. The Attorney General stated the policy is illegal. Attempts to remove the incumbent Attorney General have triggered large protests.
OUTLOOK
We assess given the conflict’s longevity and widespread frustration from local citizens with the government’s handling of the war and the hostage crisis, large-scale disruptive protests will become more frequent, leading to further disruption across Israel. The Netanyahu government will also likely continue efforts to curtail demonstrations, and these attempts will fuel additional protest activity.
We encourage organizations operating in Israel and individuals traveling to the region to be mindful of the following considerations:
- Operational Resilience: Persistent protest activity which targets key roads can cause major operational disruptions for organizations in Israel. Companies should maintain contingency plans for such events.
- Duty of Care: Organizations operating in Israel must ensure employees are informed of nearby protest activity and advised to avoid those areas due to the risk of escalation and violence.
- Reputational Risk: Operating during highly visible protests carries reputational challenges. In a polarized environment, neutrality is also scrutinized.
Authored by: Alexander Edwards
