More than 15,000 people have taken to the streets in Israel to call for an end to the war in the Gaza Strip and urge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to agree to a deal for the return of the remaining hostages.
Families and supporters of the hostages still being held by Hamas thronged Jerusalem's Paris Square, with others gathering in Tel Aviv.
Of the 48 hostages still being held in Gaza, as many as 20 are believed to be alive.
Israel has yet to formally respond to a deal that would see the release of some hostages, but has previously demanded the return of all the hostages in any agreement. Netanyahu insists total victory over Hamas will bring the hostages home.
Hamas took 251 hostages back to Gaza after its attack in southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which some 1,200 people died.
Israel launched a massive retaliation campaign to destroy Hamas which has resulted in the death of at least 64,368 Palestinians, most of them civilians, according to figures from the Hamas-run health ministry. The UN considers the figures reliable, although Israel disputes them.
Voices of protest on Israeli streets and international demands from some of Israel's allies to stop its military offensive in Gaza have been growing steadily.
Yet all the signs are that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is preparing to intensify the war, as the Netanyahu government vows to gain full control of the Gaza Strip and finally defeat Hamas.
On Saturday night, Tel Aviv and Jerusalem saw some of the biggest protests in recent months calling for the release of remaining hostages and an end to the war.
Amid the protests near Netanyahu's residence, speakers called for the prime minister to negotiate with Hamas for the hostages’ release.
Among the family members present was the mother of Matan Angrest, an IDF soldier held in Gaza, who passionately addressed Netanyahu: This is not a threat, Mr Prime Minister. If something happens, you will pay for it—this is a mother’s word. Many protesters echoed concerns that the war's expansion could jeopardize the hostages' lives.
If Netanyahu, indeed, was in his nearby Jerusalem home, the appeals from parents and supporters appear to be falling on deaf ears.
Israel's beleaguered but resolute prime minister has shown no sign of ending the war even though many former military leaders have repeatedly said the IDF has probably achieved as much as it can militarily in Gaza, without further endangering the lives of hostages and exacerbating the desperate humanitarian crisis there.
Netanyahu's Defence Minister Israel Katz has repeatedly taken to social media, posting videos of infrastructure being destroyed in Gaza, insisting that the military actions will continue.
This troubling situation unfolds while international allies urge for a ceasefire, highlighting the catastrophic humanitarian impacts for Gazan civilians. As casualties continue to rise, many are left wondering how far the Israeli government will go in prioritizing military success over the lives of hostages and civilians alike.
