The Yarkon District police prevented a group of left-wing activists from blocking the entrance to the Sde Dov military airfield in Tel Aviv Friday morning.
Twenty-one activists were detained for questioning.
At about 7 am the activists arrived at the base wearing white clothes. At some point they poured red paint on themselves and lay on the ground while blocking the gate to the compound with their bodies.
The protesters held up signs apparently addressing IDF pilots saying, "You are returning with blood on your hands."
Police received prior information on the protest and officers waited for the activists nearby, documented their actions and then arrested them.
One of the activists told Ynet: "We came here to prevent air crews and pilots from taking off to bombard civilians in Gaza. Over 400 Palestinians have been killed in recent days in this operation, which won't bring security to either of the sides.
"We staged a non-violent demonstration here to get the message against the military's violence across," he added.