Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has come under fire for his handling of the Gaza war, with massive street protests erupting across the country.
Over 400,000 people joined marches on Sunday, making it one of the largest demonstrations in almost two years of war.
The protests were sparked by Netanyahu’s failure to secure the release of remaining Israeli hostages, with many calling for an end to the conflict.
Netanyahu hit back at the protesters, suggesting they were inadvertently supporting Hamas’s position in negotiations.
“The people who are calling today for the war’s end without Hamas’s defeat are not only toughening Hamas’s stance and distancing our hostages’ release, they are also ensuring that the atrocities of October 7 will recur time and again, and that our sons and daughters will have to fight time and again in an endless war,” he said in a statement.
The Israeli Prime Minister emphasized the need to defeat Hamas in order to secure the release of hostages and ensure Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel.
“Therefore, in order to advance our hostages’ release and to ensure that Gaza no longer poses a threat to Israel, we have to finish the job and defeat Hamas,” Netanyahu stated.
The protests reflect growing divisions within Israeli society over the conflict, which has resulted in significant economic, diplomatic, and social costs.
The war has also taken a devastating toll on Gaza, with the Palestinian health ministry reporting over 62,000 Palestinians killed in the 22-month conflict. In the past 24 hours alone, at least 60 people were killed, bringing the death toll to 62,004. Another 156,230 have been wounded.
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has been described as “unbearable,” with many aspects of life, including schools, shelters, and hospitals, being targeted by Israeli forces.
The situation is particularly dire in northern Gaza, which has been under tight siege. The international community remains deeply concerned about the escalating violence and humanitarian needs in Gaza.