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Over 15,000 demonstrators have gathered in Israel, demanding an end to the ongoing conflict in Gaza and urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure an agreement for the release of remaining hostages.
Families and supporters of those held captive by Hamas convened in Jerusalem’s Paris Square, while parallel demonstrations took place in Tel Aviv.
Of the 48 hostages still detained in Gaza, it is believed that up to 20 remain alive.
Israel has yet to formally respond to a proposed deal that would facilitate the release of some hostages, but has previously insisted on the unconditional return of all hostages as a prerequisite for any agreement.
Prime Minister Netanyahu maintains that a decisive victory over Hamas is the key to securing the hostages’ release.
Hamas seized 251 hostages during its October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel, which resulted in approximately 1,200 fatalities.
In response, Israel launched a large-scale military operation aimed at dismantling Hamas. According to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry, this campaign has resulted in the deaths of at least 64,368 Palestinians. The UN considers these figures reliable, although Israel disputes their accuracy.
Growing public dissent within Israel, coupled with increasing international pressure from some allies to halt the military offensive in Gaza, underscores the mounting challenges facing the Netanyahu government.
Despite these pressures, indications suggest that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are preparing to intensify military operations, as the government remains committed to achieving full control of the Gaza Strip and ultimately defeating Hamas.
Saturday night witnessed some of the largest protests in recent months in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, with demonstrators calling for the release of remaining hostages and an end to the war.
Within earshot of Prime Minister Netanyahu’s residence, speaker after speaker implored him to negotiate a deal with Hamas to ensure the safe return of their loved ones, nearly two years after their abduction.
Among the family members directing their appeals to Prime Minister Netanyahu was the mother of Matan Angrest, an IDF soldier held in Gaza.
“This is not a threat, Mr Prime Minister. If something happens, you will pay for it – this is a mother’s word,” Anat Angrest declared, as reported by the Times of Israel.
Many protesters express concern that escalating the war will further endanger the lives of the hostages.
Whether Prime Minister Netanyahu was present in his Jerusalem home or not, the appeals from parents and supporters appear to have gone unanswered.
Israel’s embattled Prime Minister has shown no sign of ending the war, despite repeated assertions from former military leaders that the IDF has likely achieved its military objectives in Gaza, and that further operations risk endangering the hostages and exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Reportedly, many serving army generals share this assessment but are now being directed by the government to prepare for a large-scale ground incursion into Gaza City and the rest of the war-torn enclave.
In recent days, Defence Minister Israel Katz has repeatedly used social media to post videos of high-rise buildings in Gaza City being demolished, accompanied by the explicit message that this is just the beginning.
Israel justifies the destruction of Gaza’s prominent buildings by claiming that Hamas uses them as “command and control centers.”
This continued on Sunday, when the IDF issued an evacuation order before destroying a third high-rise building in Gaza City in as many days. Israel accused Hamas of installing “intelligence-gathering equipment” in the tower.
Hamas has previously denied using high-rise buildings, where Palestinians say displaced people were seeking shelter.
Despite near-daily bombardment, Israel denies accusations of implementing a “scorched-earth” policy – the systematic destruction of public buildings and homes to render Gaza uninhabitable.
Minister Katz had previously threatened to “open the gates of hell” as Israel warned Gaza City residents to evacuate to the so-called “humanitarian enclave” of al-Mawasi, further south.
However, nowhere in Gaza can realistically be described as “safe,” and al-Mawasi itself has been repeatedly targeted by Israeli air strikes, resulting in dozens of fatalities – many, including several children, in the past week.
It is against this backdrop that many of Israel’s allies have repeatedly called for an end to the fighting in Gaza and a return to ceasefire negotiations.
“We are extremely concerned about the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, and that’s why we repeat our calls for Israel to stop the military offensive,” said Denmark’s Foreign Minister, Lars Rasmussen, during a visit to Jerusalem on Sunday.
This message was politely disregarded by his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa’ar, who subtly warned that some European nations’ intention to soon recognize Palestinian statehood would be counterproductive and could have dire consequences.
When asked by a reporter about the Netanyahu government’s stance on controversial proposals to annex the Occupied Palestinian West Bank, Sa’ar responded: “We’ve had discussions on this issue with the prime minister, and there will be a decision. I don’t have to elaborate.”
The foreign minister also mentioned that he had recently discussed the matter with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, amidst reports citing US officials, including Mike Huckabee – the high-profile ambassador to Israel – indicating that the Trump administration would not “tell Israel what to do” if it chose to declare sovereignty over much of the West Bank.
Should that occur, tensions in an already volatile region would escalate further.
As Israel’s position hardens, the death toll in Gaza continues to rise.
According to local officials, at least 87 people were killed in air strikes across Gaza over the past 24 hours.
The Gaza health ministry also reported that five people, including three children, had died during the same period due to famine and malnutrition.
Against this grim backdrop, Prime Minister Netanyahu remains steadfast.
“If I have to choose between victory over our enemies and evil propaganda against us – I choose victory,” the prime minister stated on Sunday, making it clear that Israeli troops were “deepening maneuvers” around and inside Gaza City.
The images come as the Israeli military says it has established control over 40% of Gaza City.
Prime Minister Netanyahu says Hamas “has nothing new” and that war can end only on terms that Israel has set.
The warning came after a far-right Israeli minister unveiled a proposal for the annexation of four-fifths of the occupied territory.
Strikes reportedly kill 31 people in the city, home to a million people and where a famine was declared last month.
The two democratic allies have had a spectacular falling out – but what has actually changed?
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