Hundreds gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday to call for the release of Avera Mengistu, who has been missing in Gaza for 1,000 days. In nearby Petah Tikva, hundreds demonstrated against police brutality and threats to freedom of expression.
Photos: Oren Ziv / Activestills (Tel Aviv), Orly Noy (Petah Tikva)

Hundreds of people marched down Tel Aviv’s Rothschild Boulevard on Saturday evening in solidarity with Avera Mengistu, an Ethiopian-Israeli who entered Gaza in September 2014 and has been missing ever since. He is presumed to be in Hamas captivity.

Marking 1,000 days since his disappearance, protesters wore t-shirts bearing his image, and with the words “Where is Avera?” on them.

Since the gag order on Mengistu’s disappearance was lifted in July 2015, 11 months after he went missing, critics have publicly questioned the government’s inaction over trying to secure his release.

In nearby Petah Tikva, meanwhile, hundreds of people demonstrated on Saturday evening against police brutality and threats to freedom of expression.

Demonstrators held up signs protesting police violence and calling for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stand trial, as well as for the Attorney General to resign.
This post is also published in Hebrew on Local Call.