Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators gathered across Israel on Sunday, urging an end to the ongoing war in Gaza and advocating for the release of hostages held by Hamas. The largest demonstration took place in Tel Aviv's "Hostages Square," where protest organizers expressed concerns that Israel's military plans to take control of Gaza City posed a risk to approximately 20 hostages still in captivity. A concurrent national strike resulted in road closures and disrupted daily activities in various regions, leading to the arrest of nearly 40 individuals.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the protests, suggesting they could reinforce Hamas's position and delay the hostages' release. Bezalel Smotrich, a far-right minister, echoed these sentiments, criticizing the demonstrations as aiding Hamas.
The national strike was initiated by families of hostages and other groups opposing the escalation of the conflict. Einav Zangauker, a prominent advocate and mother of a hostage, voiced the group's plea for a comprehensive agreement and an end to the hostilities. "We demand what is rightfully ours - our children," she stated, addressing a large crowd in Tel Aviv in emotional remarks following the release of a video featuring her son.
These protests emerged shortly after Israel's war cabinet made the controversial decision to occupy Gaza City and displace its residents, a move widely denounced by the UN Security Council. As a result of relentless bombardments, thousands of citizens have fled the southern Zeitoun neighborhood, which the local Hamas-run municipality described as facing a "catastrophic" situation.
The situation remains dire, with reports indicating that at least 40 fatalities occurred from Israeli airstrikes across the territory on Saturday alone. Hamas condemned what it termed a "sustained offensive" carried out by Israeli forces in the eastern and southern areas of Gaza City.
In a shift towards humanitarian concerns, the Israeli military announced it would permit aid organizations to deliver tents and shelter supplies to Gaza, as part of preparations to relocate civilians from dangerous combat zones to safer areas in the southern part of the Strip.
The Israeli government is planning to forcibly relocate a million people from Gaza City but has not provided specific timelines. Reports suggest that since the conflict erupted following Hamas's attack on October 7, which claimed around 1,200 Israeli lives and resulted in the abduction of 251 individuals, the humanitarian crisis has deepened with a significant portion of Gaza's population displaced. The UN indicates that as many as 1.9 million people have fled their homes, leading to widespread malnutrition and looming famine in the region.
