Highway 1, the main artery between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, once again became a charged arena of protest. On Sunday morning, during peak rush hour, dozens of demonstrators blocked the road demanding the return of the hostages from Gaza. Beyond the endless traffic jam, one clear issue emerged: directing anger straight at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, viewed by protesters as long detached from public responsibility. From there, it was only natural that attention turned to his convoy, which was expected to pass along the route
בדקות אלה פעילי מחאה חסמו את כביש 1 באזור שער הגיא לכיוון תל אביב .
שיירת ראש הממשלה יצאה רק לפני כעשר דקות מהמעון לכיוון תל אביב. pic.twitter.com/sR5ArhmlgZ— לירי בורק שביט (@lirishavit) August 24, 2025
Highway 1 blockade and the message to Netanyahu’s convoy
According to some reports, the prime minister’s convoy was supposed to pass through this central road, making the blockade far more charged. Stopping traffic on the country’s main lifeline was not seen as just another jam, but as a move aimed at the heart of power. For the wider public, the standstill signaled gaps that were not only political or moral – but tangible. Thus, the blockade developed from a local disruption into a symbolic act, echoing within the broader protest for the hostages’ return
No routine without the hostages: the message that blocked Highway 1
From the local blockade, the protest pointed to a broader understanding. In global protest history, disrupting leaders’ daily routines has long been a tactic – from the civil rights movement in the United States to climate activists blocking highways across Europe. So too in Jerusalem: stopping Highway 1 was meant to show that there can be no routine while the hostages remain in Gaza. The traffic jam, the frustration, and the drivers’ anger were not side effects, but part of the message. In this way, the scene on the road became a powerful symbol of paralysis, drawing the gaze directly to the prime minister
(Half-Alive in Gaza: Jerusalem’s Rom Breslavski Forgotten)
Highway 1 blockade: Netanyahu as a symbol of detachment
At this stage, one thing became clear: the very possibility of Netanyahu himself stuck in the convoy highlighted the sense of detachment from the ground. For many, this was not just another traffic delay, but a tangible illustration of the gap between citizens and the man meant to lead them. The moment the prime minister could be caught in the same standstill, the message sharpened – governmental responsibility could no longer evade. This blockade became a sharp emblem of civic struggle – Netanyahu’s convoy as a metaphor for a country stuck, and citizens refusing to move on as usual
