Israeli police ban photos of Palestinian children killed in Gaza at anti-war protest, then backtrack

Protest organizer says police rescinded demand after facing public pressure

Israeli police set conditions for the approval of an anti-war protest in Tel Aviv scheduled for Thursday, including a ban on displaying photos of Palestinian children killed in Gaza, Israel’s Haaretz daily reported. The joint Jewish-Arab “Standing Together” movement, which is organizing the protest, received a letter from the police Sunday saying they are prohibited from displaying signs, posters or flags that "incite to violent or illegal activity," the report said. The movement said that following a public backlash, however, the police rescinded their demand. "Tel Aviv Police informed us that they prohibit us from displaying photos of Palestinian children in Gaza, killed by air force bombing, in our upcoming anti-war protest on Thursday," Standing Together said on X. "After public pressure, they backtracked. We will not be silenced!" Alon-Lee Green, co-director of Standing Together, said they would launch a nationwide campaign Monday featuring billboards displaying images of Gaza children killed by Israeli bombs. The police document, obtained by Haaretz, also prohibits the display of "hostage signs" and signs bearing the word "genocide." More than 51,200 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in a brutal Israeli onslaught since October 2023, most of them women and children. Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.