Israeli demonstrators aimed at President Donald Trump and Netanyahu’s White House meeting on Monday by unveiling a new drawing on a Tel Aviv beach, situated near the U.S. embassy.
The portrait, which TIME has opted not to publish, depicted Trump and Netanyahu facing each other, with Netanyahu shown bearing an elongated nose. Beneath the drawing, the inscription read: “Don’t be fooled again.”
The protesters, whose precise identity remains unknown, have voiced criticism of Netanyahu for his failure to secure the return of the remaining Israeli hostages, who have been held captive in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
This is not the first instance of Israeli protesters expressing their grievances on the beaches of Tel Aviv. These acts of protest represent the latest indication of a domestic uprising against the actions of Netanyahu’s government.
On September 13, an installation was revealed on the same stretch of sand opposite the U.S. embassy office. Once again, images of Trump and Netanyahu were visible; this time, each was depicted pulling two ends of the crossed yellow ribbon, which has become a symbol for the Israeli hostages. The words “Nobel War” were spelled out underneath, and the yellow ribbon appeared to be dripping a red substance, seemingly indicating blood.
On September 5, another demonstration piece on the beach showcased Trump as Netanyahu’s puppet master. Apparently referencing the hostages, with the yellow ribbon symbol incorporated once more, the words beneath the installation stated: “Wanna save?! Save! Don’t talk!”
In August, a nationwide day of activism was observed, calling for an urgent ceasefire, demanding the return of the hostages, and criticizing the Israeli government’s decision to .
“We are hearing talk about conquering Gaza; that will be a death sentence for our hostages,” stated Viki Cohen, mother of hostage Eli Cohen, at an earlier demonstration.
These diverse protests emerge amidst global concern over the and the impact of the Israel-Hamas war on civilians.
Netanyahu focused at the U.N. General Assembly on Friday, addressing the 48 hostages believed to still be in Gaza, 20 of whom he stated are alive.
After explaining that his speech was being broadcast across Gaza via speakers, and directly onto the phones of people in the territory, Netanyahu addressed the living hostages, hoping his words would reach them.
“Our brave heroes, this is Prime Minister Netanyahu speaking to you live from the United Nations. We have not forgotten you, not even for a second. The people of Israel are with you, we will not falter, and we will not rest until we bring all of you home,” he declared, initially in Hebrew, then in English.
Trump also mentioned the hostages delivered three days prior.
“We must get it done. We must negotiate. Immediately. Peace must be negotiated. We have to get the hostages back,” Trump urged.
Both Netanyahu and Trump utilized their U.N. platforms to heavily criticize the growing number of Western countries that have moved to recognize a , arguing it serves as a “reward” to Hamas.
The world leaders are set to discuss a viable path to peace during Netanyahu’s Monday visit to the White House.
“We possess a real chance for greatness in the Middle East. All are on board for something special. A first-time occurrence. We will get it done,” Trump via Truth Social on Sunday.
Trump reiterated his viewpoint outside the Oval Office on Monday, while awaiting Netanyahu’s greeting. “I am very confident,” Trump told a journalist who inquired: “Are you confident there will be peace in Gaza anytime soon?”
Netanyahu appeared more cautious during his own Sunday statement on the matter.
“We are working on it. It has not yet been finalized, but we are working with President Trump’s team, even as we speak,” he told Fox News regarding a possible path to peace. “I hope we can make it a reality, because we want to free our hostages, we want to eradicate Hamas rule, ensure their disarmament, demilitarize Gaza, and establish a new future for Gazans and Israelis alike, and for the entire region.”
The Israel-Hamas war commenced after Hamas launched a terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing over 1,200 people and taking approximately 250 hostages. Over 66,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war’s beginning, .
In the absence of independent monitoring on the ground, the ministry stands as the primary source for casualty data relied upon by humanitarian groups, journalists, and international bodies. Its figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants and cannot be independently verified by TIME. Data from the IDF suggests.
