Protesters demanding an end to the Gaza war and the release of hostages took to the streets across Israel on Tuesday, hours before a scheduled meeting of the country’s security cabinet.
In Tel Aviv, demonstrators blocked major roads, waved Israeli flags, and displayed photographs of hostages still held in Gaza, AFP correspondents reported. Others gathered outside the U.S. embassy branch in the city and at the homes of several cabinet ministers, according to local media.
“Prime Minister (Benjamin) Netanyahu prioritises the destruction of Hamas over releasing the hostages,” said Ruby Chen, whose son was abducted during Hamas’s October 2023 assault on Israel. “He believes it is OK and it is a valid alternative to sacrifice 50 hostages for political needs,” he told one rally.
The agenda for Tuesday evening’s cabinet session was not officially confirmed, but Israeli media reported it would likely focus on ongoing ceasefire and hostage-release negotiations.
Earlier this month, the cabinet approved plans for the military to seize Gaza City, sparking renewed fears for the safety of hostages and fueling nationwide protests that have drawn tens of thousands. Netanyahu last week ordered immediate talks to secure the release of all remaining captives while simultaneously vowing to press ahead with the offensive.
Hamas recently announced its acceptance of a ceasefire proposal put forward by mediators, which included a staggered release of hostages over 60 days in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel. Qatar, a key mediator, said Tuesday that Israel had yet to respond to the proposal.
“The responsibility now lies on the Israeli side to respond to an offer that is on the table,” Qatari foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told reporters in Doha. “Anything else is political posturing.”
Israel is facing growing domestic and international pressure to end its campaign in Gaza, where the war has caused widespread destruction and deepened the humanitarian crisis.
On Monday, Israeli airstrikes hit a hospital in Gaza, killing at least 20 people, including five journalists working for international news agencies. The attack drew condemnation worldwide, including from some of Israel’s closest allies. Netanyahu later described the strike as a “tragic mishap,” and the military announced an investigation.
The war has become one of the deadliest conflicts for journalists, with around 200 media workers killed since the fighting began, according to press watchdogs.
The conflict erupted after Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, which killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures compiled by AFP. Out of 251 hostages taken during the assault, 49 remain in Gaza, including 27 the Israeli military says are dead.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has since killed at least 62,819 Palestinians, the majority civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry that the United Nations has deemed reliable.
