Thousands of Israelis marched through the streets of Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, demanding an end to the war in Gaza and the release of hostages still held by Hamas.
At the protest in Paris Square in Jerusalem, families of the hostages made direct appeals to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept a deal for their release, according to the BBC.
Of the 251 people kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023, 48 remain in captivity, with around 20 believed to still be alive.
Netanyahu insists that a “total victory” over Hamas will secure their freedom. However, critics — including former military chiefs and some current generals — argue that Israel’s campaign has reached its limits. They warn that continuing the war endangers the hostages’ lives while deepening the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.
Over the past three days, Israeli forces have destroyed three high-rise buildings in Gaza, claiming they served as Hamas command centers. Civilians were ordered to evacuate beforehand, but aid groups stress there are effectively no safe zones left in Gaza. Even the so-called “humanitarian zone” of al-Mawasi has been repeatedly hit.
In the last 24 hours alone, 87 people were reported killed in airstrikes, while five others — including three children — died from hunger and malnutrition.
Countries like Denmark and other European states have called for an immediate halt to Israel’s military operations. Yet, Israel has rejected such appeals and strongly opposes international moves toward recognizing Palestinian statehood. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar even warned of severe diplomatic consequences and did not rule out further annexation of the West Bank.
As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, Netanyahu faces mounting domestic and international pressure. Still, his government remains entrenched in a hardline military and political stance, while growing numbers of Israelis believe that the continuation of the war has become inhumane.
Meanwhile, anti-war protests against Israel’s Gaza campaign have spread globally, with demonstrations reported in multiple cities around the world.
