Tel Aviv Sees Massive Rally Demanding End to Gaza War
Gaza’s civil defence says Israeli fire killed 37 on Saturday, including 30 civilians waiting for aid
Tens of thousands poured into the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday night, demanding an end to the war in Gaza and the safe return of hostages. Demonstrators waved signs, chanted slogans, and held up photos of loved ones still trapped in the Palestinian territory.
AFP reporters estimated the crowd in the tens of thousands. A group representing hostage families claimed the number reached 100,000. That would make it one of the largest anti-war rallies since the conflict began.
Shahar Mor Zahiro, whose relative was killed while held hostage, delivered a sharp warning to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu:
“If you invade parts of Gaza and the hostages are murdered, we will pursue you — in the town squares, during election campaigns, everywhere.”
Push for Gaza City Draws Criticism
The protest came a day after Netanyahu’s security cabinet approved a major push to seize Gaza City. The decision drew criticism from Israeli citizens and foreign governments. Several of Israel’s allies urged a ceasefire to free hostages and ease Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.
Rumors suggest tension within Israel’s military leadership, but Netanyahu remains firm. On Friday night, he said: “We are not going to occupy Gaza – we are going to free Gaza from Hamas.”
Hostage Crisis Continues
For nearly two years, protests have demanded a deal to bring home the captives. Of the 251 people taken in Hamas’s 2023 attack, 49 remain in Gaza. The military says 27 of them are dead.
Palestinian Authority Response
The Palestinian Authority condemned Israel’s plan, calling it “a new crime.” President Mahmud Abbas urged immediate international action. He repeated his call for the State of Palestine to take full control of Gaza.
In the same meeting, Israel’s security cabinet approved a post-war plan for a new Gaza administration “neither Hamas nor the Palestinian Authority.”
International Opposition
World leaders have spoken out against the move. The foreign ministers of Italy, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom warned it would worsen Gaza’s humanitarian disaster. They said it could also threaten hostages’ lives and trigger mass civilian displacement. Russia also condemned the plan, saying it risks deepening the crisis in the enclave.
Rising Death Toll
Gaza’s health ministry reports over 61,000 Palestinian deaths since the war began. The UN considers the figure reliable. Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel killed 1,219 people.
