Thousands of Israelis took to the streets of Jerusalem on Wednesday to protest the government’s decision to call up tens of thousands of reservists for an internationally condemned offensive in Gaza. Demonstrators fear that the intensified assault could endanger hostages still held by Hamas.
Protesters accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet of failing to secure a ceasefire deal and instead pushing forward with an offensive that, according to Gaza hospitals, is causing a sharp rise in civilian casualties.
“We must take extreme action to remind everyone. No state abandons its citizens,” said Yael Kuperman, a protester outside the Knesset, speaking to Israel’s public broadcaster Kan.
Israelis have repeatedly protested throughout the war, demanding a deal to bring hostages home.
Heavy Strikes Overnight in Gaza
According to hospital officials cited by the Associated Press, at least 24 people were killed in Israeli strikes overnight and Wednesday morning.
- Nasser Hospital reported receiving 10 bodies, including a child killed in Rafah.
- Shifa Hospital took in 14 bodies, among them two children and four women.
- Al-Quds Hospital confirmed one additional death.
Israel maintains that Gaza City remains a Hamas stronghold, with an extensive tunnel network still operating despite previous raids.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
Israel has intensified air and ground assaults on Gaza City’s western neighborhoods, forcing many displaced families toward the coast, humanitarian groups said.
Palestinians and aid workers warn of a dual threat of relentless fighting and starvation, as most families in Gaza City have been displaced multiple times during the 23-month-long war.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported that 113 Palestinians were killed on Tuesday alone, more than half in Gaza City. It also confirmed that in the past 24 hours, five adults and one child died of malnutrition, bringing the overall toll from hunger to 367 deaths, including 131 children.
Background of the War
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and took around 250 hostages, according to Israeli figures.
Since then, over 63,633 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas but staffed by medical professionals.
