Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday night to oppose Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to escalate the Gaza war. According to organizers, more than 100,000 demonstrators attended the rally, demanding an immediate end to the military campaign and the release of hostages. The Israeli prime minister’s office had announced a day earlier that the security cabinet had decided to seize Gaza City, expanding military operations in the devastated Palestinian territory despite widespread public opposition and warnings from the military that the move could endanger the hostages.
Lishay Miran Lavi, the wife of hostage Omri Miran, pleaded with US President Donald Trump to intervene and immediately bring an end to the war, saying, “This isn’t just a military decision. It could be a death sentence for the people we love most.” Public opinion polls show an overwhelming majority of Israelis favor an immediate end to the war to secure the release of the remaining 50 hostages held by militants in Gaza. Israeli officials believe about 20 hostages are still alive.
Rami Dar, a 69-year-old retiree, echoed calls for Trump to force a deal for the hostages, saying, “They (the government) are fanatic. They are doing things against the interests of the country.” Yana, a 45-year-old attendee, expressed her concerns about the war, stating, “Frankly, I’m not an expert or anything, but I feel that after two years of fighting there has been no success. I wonder whether additional lives for both sides, not just the Israelis but also Gazans, will make any difference.”
The protesters waved Israeli flags and carried placards bearing the images of hostages, while others held signs directing anger at the government or urging Trump to take action to stop Netanyahu from moving forward with plans to escalate the war. A small number of protesters held images of children killed by the military in Gaza. Israel’s military has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians in the war, according to Gaza’s health ministry, which said on Saturday that at least 39 had been killed in the past day.
Some of the prime minister’s far-right coalition allies have been pushing for a total takeover of Gaza, despite warnings from the military that this could endanger the lives of the hostages in Gaza. Far-right minister Bezalel Smotrich issued a statement criticizing Netanyahu and calling for the annexation of large parts of Gaza. Netanyahu told Fox News that the military intended to take control of all Gaza but that Israel did not want to keep the territory.
Tal, a 55-year-old high school teacher, expressed his opposition to the plan, warning that it would result in the deaths of soldiers and hostages. “We don’t have anything to do there. It’s not ours,” he said, emphasizing the need for the military to withdraw. The UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has also urged Israel to reconsider its plan to take over Gaza City, saying it would only bring more bloodshed.