Thousands of Israelis took to the streets on Tuesday, setting tires ablaze and blocking highways to demand an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages held in Gaza, as the Israeli government pushes forward with plans for a major military offensive in Gaza City. The protests, organized by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum as a “National Day of Struggle,” reflect growing public frustration with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, now nearing its second year.
The demonstrations follow a devastating Israeli airstrike on Monday that targeted Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza, killing 20 people, including five journalists, among them Mariam Dagga, a freelance journalist who worked with The Associated Press. The attack, described as a “double-tap” strike where a second blast hit those responding to the first, has drawn global condemnation for its impact on journalists and medical facilities. Netanyahu called the strike a “tragic mishap” and promised a military investigation, but it has intensified calls for a ceasefire.
On Tuesday, Israeli strikes continued, with hospitals reporting at least 16 Palestinian deaths, including women and children, across Nasser Hospital, Shifa Hospital, and Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan clinic. Gaza’s Health Ministry, considered reliable by the UN, reported three additional malnutrition-related deaths, bringing the total to 186 since late June, with 117 children among the war’s malnutrition victims. The ministry estimates 62,819 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began, with roughly half being women and children, though Israel disputes these figures without providing alternatives.
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The protests, marked by banners reading “Hostage Deal Now,” were fueled by families of the 50 hostages still held in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to be alive, out of the 251 captured during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack that killed approximately 1,200 people. “We could have ended the war a year ago and brought all the hostages home,” said Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan remains captive. “The prime minister chose to sacrifice civilians for his rule.” Ruby Chen, father of deceased hostage Itay Chen, urged Netanyahu to return to negotiations, citing a viable ceasefire proposal.
Netanyahu insists the planned offensive in Gaza City is necessary to dismantle Hamas and secure the hostages’ release, despite warnings from security officials that it could endanger captives. The Israeli military has called for Palestinians in hospitals, displacement camps, and Gaza City neighborhoods to evacuate to southern “safe zones,” a move criticized by Hamas as a precursor to mass displacement and by the UN as exacerbating Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.
Far-right coalition members, including Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, have denounced the protests as aiding Hamas, threatening to collapse the government if a truce is agreed upon. Meanwhile, Hamas has signaled openness to a 60-day ceasefire deal involving the release of half the living hostages in exchange for 150 Palestinian prisoners, though Israel has not yet responded.
As Israel’s security cabinet prepares to meet Tuesday evening, the nation remains deeply divided. Protesters, supported by businesses and municipalities, vow to escalate their campaign, with plans for a protest encampment near the Gaza border. The intensifying conflict, marked by famine, displacement, and mounting casualties, underscores the urgent need for a resolution to bring peace and the safe return of hostages.
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