Tens of Thousands Rally Against Netanyahu’s Gaza Takeover Plan
Tens of thousands in Israel protested Netanyahu’s Gaza takeover plan, demanding an end to the war and a hostage deal to free remaining captives.
Media oultets report that tens of thousands of people in Israel have taken to the streets in large-scale protests against the government’s plans to seize Gaza.
Al Jazeera reported that around 60,000 people gathered on Saturday evening, August 9, at Hostages Square, calling for an immediate end to military operations in Gaza and a prisoner exchange deal to free the 50 remaining hostages.
According to reports, of the 251 hostages abducted during the Hamas attack in October 2023, 49 remain in Gaza, with the Israeli military declaring 27 of them dead.
Protesters, including families of hostages and peace activists, carried placards reading “Stop the War” and “Bring Them Home Now,” accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of prioritizing political interests over the hostages’ lives.
Shahar Mor Zehira, a relative of a slain hostage, told AFP that if an invasion of Gaza proceeds, Netanyahu would be “held accountable in the public squares.”
The protests intensified after Israel’s security cabinet approved a plan on August 8 to capture Gaza City, a move widely condemned internationally and feared to worsen the humanitarian crisis.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that more than 61,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023. The United Nations and Western governments have called the plan a violation of international law and a direct threat to the hostages’ safety.
The growing demonstrations reflect a deepening divide within Israeli society over the war’s direction and the government’s handling of the hostage crisis. International observers warn that continued military escalation could further isolate Israel diplomatically while worsening the suffering of civilians in Gaza.
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