Anti-government protesters injured in hit and run in Tel Aviv

• Published date: 06 April 2024
• Author: TZVI JOFFRE
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

One of the protesters was in moderate condition, while at least two others were lightly injured, according to Magen David Adom

Footage from the scene showed the driver and passengers yelling at police and protesters before speeding forward and driving over several people. The driver was later arrested.

Earlier in the evening, police said that a group of rioters began illegally blocking roads at the end of a legal protest in Tel Aviv, lighting bonfires and attacking police officers. The police added that an officer was injured and required treatment after a protester was pushed at her. Initially, the police had asserted that the officer was punched in the face by a protester, but they corrected their statement after a video was published online showing a police officer swinging the protester directly toward the injured officer without any incident of the officer being punched.

Anti-government protesters clash with police in Tel Aviv. (Credit: Israel Police)

"Unfortunately, a handful of demonstrators came with the aim of confronting the police with severe violence and not protesting legitimately," said Israel Police. "We take seriously the violations of the peace, which cause the police to divert forces that are engaged in security tasks and maintaining public safety. We will act with zero tolerance towards those who disrupt the order and behave violently towards police officers."

Protesters blame government for hit and run

The Kaplan Force protest movement expressed outrage at the hit-and-run incident on Saturday night, noting that just a few hours before the incident, Transportation Minister Miri Regev accused the protesters of wanting to murder Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"The writing is already on the fence; there are people there with torches to assassinate and kill the Prime Minister," said Regev in comments to N12's Meet the Press program on Saturday in reference to the protests that have been taking place in recent weeks in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.

"Not only the blood of 1,400 murdered people are on the hands of this government, but also the blood of the wounded now in Tel Aviv," said the Kaplan Force after the incident in Tel Aviv. "The...