TEL AVIV, Israel. Thousands of Israelis staged nationwide protests on Sunday, demanding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secure a deal with Hamas to end the war in Gaza and release hostages still held in the enclave.
Carrying Israeli flags and photos of captives, demonstrators filled streets across the country as whistles, horns, and drums echoed through rallies. Some blocked major roads and highways, including the main route between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
“Today, everything stops to remember the highest value, the sanctity of life,” said Anat Angrest, whose son Matan remains in captivity, during a gathering in Tel Aviv.
Israeli actress Gal Gadot, internationally known for her role as Wonder Woman, also met with hostage families in Tel Aviv.
The protests were called by relatives of hostages, with some businesses allowing staff to join the strike. While others closed, many remained open as Sunday is a working day in Israel. Schools were unaffected due to summer recess. A major rally was scheduled in Tel Aviv later in the evening.
By mid-afternoon, police reported 38 arrests, mostly from road blockades that led to clashes with officers. Demonstrations paused briefly around 4 p.m. when air raid sirens warned of an incoming missile from Yemen, which was intercepted without incident.
Netanyahu, addressing his cabinet on Sunday, dismissed calls to end the war, saying: “Those who call today for an end to the war without defeating Hamas are not only hardening Hamas’ position and delaying the release of our hostages. They are also ensuring that the horrors of October 7 will repeat themselves over and over again.”
The prime minister, who leads Israel’s most right-wing government, reiterated plans for the military to seize Gaza City, one of the last major areas outside Israeli control. The move is opposed by many hostage families, who fear an expanded campaign could endanger the captives. Officials estimate that of the 50 hostages still held in Gaza, only around 20 are alive.
“There is no time – not for the lives wasting away in hell, nor for the fallen who may vanish in the ruins of Gaza,” the Hostages Families Forum said in a statement.
The war, now nearing its second year after the Hamas-led attack on Israel in October 2023, has left more than 61,000 Palestinians dead, according to Gaza health officials. At least 29 were reported killed in the past day. Hamas called Israel’s plan to seize Gaza City “criminal,” warning it would displace hundreds of thousands of civilians.
In Israel, around 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage during the October 2023 assault. More than 400 Israeli soldiers have died in the Gaza campaign.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid joined the protests in Tel Aviv, writing on X that “the only thing that strengthens the country is the wonderful spirit of the people who are going out from home today for Israeli solidarity.”
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
