Hundreds of Israelis protested on Saturday in Tel Aviv against new restrictions imposed to combat the coronavirus and in rejection of vaccines, as the number of infections and hospitalizations surged to levels not seen in months. The Health Ministry reported on Saturday that 2,435 new COVID-19 cases were recorded on Friday, the highest number since March, attributed to the more contagious Delta variant. There were 326 hospitalizations, the highest figure since April, although this is much lower compared to January when more than 2,000 people were hospitalized daily.
In recent days, Israel has started vaccinating older citizens with a third vaccine dose, reimposed the mandatory wearing of masks indoors, and reinstated "Green Pass" restrictions requiring citizens to present vaccination certificates to enter closed places such as gyms, restaurants, and hotels. The increase in cases is seen as a setback after Israel's vaccination campaign reduced new COVID-19 cases from ten thousand daily to under 100.
The protesters held signs reading "There is no pandemic, it’s a hoax," and others denouncing coronavirus vaccines, including a poster linking the vaccines to the Nazis. Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz told Israeli television channel 12 on Saturday that he aims to balance public health and livelihoods, stating, "The economy must remain open," and added, "I don't want to impose a lockdown. I will avoid a lockdown at all costs. Everything is open, but we need masks and we need vaccines."
Israel was one of the first countries to launch a large-scale vaccination campaign in December thanks to an agreement with Pfizer that allowed it to quickly obtain millions of doses in exchange for providing the pharmaceutical giant with medical data about the vaccine's effects. About 60% of Israel's population of 9.3 million have received two vaccine doses, with this percentage rising to 90% among those aged 60 and above, yet more than a million eligible individuals are still refusing to get vaccinated.
