Residents of Israel have begun blocking motorways

Hundreds of protesters began blocking interchanges and motorways across Israel on Sunday morning, demanding early elections and the immediate release of hostages from the Gaza Strip.

The date of July 7, exactly nine months since the Hamas attack and kidnapping, has been proclaimed by protest organisers as “Day of Resistance to the Government”.

Mass rallies are expected in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa and dozens of other cities.