Massive Protests in Israel Demand End to Gaza War and Release of Hostages
TEL AVIV — In a powerful display of unity, hundreds of thousands of people have converged in Israel to demand an immediate end to the Gaza war and to secure the release of hostages being held by Hamas.
The epicenter of the largest crowd was witnessed at Tel Aviv’s “Hostages Square” on Sunday, with organizers expressing concerns over the government’s plans to take control of Gaza City, potentially endangering the lives of approximately 20 hostages still in captivity by Hamas.
A one-day national strike, as part of a broader protest movement, effectively shut down roads, offices, and universities in certain regions, resulting in nearly 40 arrests throughout the day.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the protests, warning that they could “harden Hamas’s stance” and impede the progress towards securing the release of the hostages.
Far-right Israeli minister Bezalel Smotrich also condemned the protests, labeling them as a “detrimental campaign that plays into the hands of Hamas”.
The families of the hostages, along with other opponents of the war’s expansion, demanded the national strike to draw attention to their cause.
Einv Zangauker, the mother of hostage Matan and a prominent figure in the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, emphasized the need for “a comprehensive and achievable agreement and an end to the war”.
“We demand what is rightfully ours — our children,” she passionately declared to the crowd in Tel Aviv. “The Israeli government has turned a just war into a senseless conflict.”
These protests followed a recent decision by Israel’s war cabinet to occupy Gaza City and displace its residents, a move that has been strongly condemned by the UN Security Council.
Thousands of individuals have fled the southern Zeitoun neighborhood in Gaza City due to intense Israeli bombardment, leading to a dire humanitarian situation as reported by the city’s Hamas-run municipality to the BBC.
Hamas stated that Israeli forces were engaged in an aggressive campaign in various neighborhoods of Gaza City, particularly in Zeitoun.
Responding to the crisis, the Israeli military announced plans to resume the supply of tents and shelter equipment to Gaza through aid agencies to assist in the relocation of the population to safer areas in the south.
Israel intends to forcibly move a million people from Gaza City to camps in the south, although the exact timeline for this operation remains unclear.
Reports suggest that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu aims to have complete control over Gaza City by October 7.
With a significant portion of Gaza’s population already displaced, the UN has warned of widespread malnutrition in the region, with concerns of a potential famine unfolding in the Strip.
The conflict in Gaza was sparked by Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in numerous casualties and hostages being taken.
According to figures from the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry, Israel’s offensive has led to the deaths of over 61,000 Palestinians, a toll that the UN deems reliable. — BBC
