Pressure has risen to a fever pitch against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his cabinet to secure a ceasefire deal in Gaza.
This week, hundreds of thousands of Israelis have taken to the streets in the Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and other cities across the country in some of the largest demonstrations since the war on Gaza began, with protesters demanding for the government to strike a deal and ensure the return of the 60 living hostages estimated by Israeli authorities, and the bodies of about 35 others taken captive but believed to be dead, which are still in Gaza.
In the wake of stalled negotiations between Hamas and Israeli leaders, many protesters feel Netanyahu and members of his cabinet are deliberately delaying a deal. Frustrations over delays reached a fever pitch this weekend, when Israeli forces in Gaza discovered the bodies of six captives taken hostage by Hamas on October 7. Many were kidnapped in the Hamas attack on the Nova music festival and according to the IDF, were killed shortly before Israeli forces reached them.
Recent protests are the latest instance of domestic opposition to Netanyahu. From January 2023 through last fall, Israeli citizens engaged in widespread demonstrations against proposed changes to the judiciary system, which critics asserted that, if passed, would help Netanyahu evade corruption charges, and undermine judicial oversight.
“I think the fact that they were alive and murdered right before they could have been saved – that broke it,” Anna Rubin, who joined a protest in Tel Aviv, told BBC News. “That’s a breaking point for a lot of people – [they] are on the edge of their seat, and they realize that sitting at home is not going to do anything.”
Families of hostages have also repeatedly taken to the streets, accusing Netanyahu’s government of failing to rescue their loved ones.
One of the hostages killed last week was Hersh Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old Israeli-American who was at the Nova music festival on October 7. His parents spoke at the Democratic National Convention in August, a few weeks before his death, to make their case for a deal and ceasefire.
“In our Jewish tradition, we say ‘kol adam olam um lo’o,’ ‘every person is an entire universe,’” Jon Polin said on stage. “We must save all these universes. In an inflamed Middle East, we know the one thing that can most immediately release pressure and bring calm to the entire region: A deal that brings this diverse group of 109 hostages home and ends the suffering of the innocent civilians in Gaza.”
Israeli forces have killed more than 40,000 Palestinians and left much of Gaza destroyed during 11 months of attacks. Israeli opponents of the proposed ceasefire, led by right-wing nationalists in Netanyahu’s cabinet like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir have also been vocal in counter-protests.
Smotrich has claimed the most recent protests are in the interest of Hamas, while Ben-Gvir said during a counter-protest in Jerusalem that “We’re using our power in the government to prevent a reckless deal.”
For his part, Netanyahu has evaded acknowledgement of accusations of delaying a ceasefire deal, and has instead re-asserted calls to ensure Hamas “pays a heavy price.”
“Whoever murders hostages – does not want a deal,” the prime minister said in a statement posted to X on Sunday.
“The government of Israel is committed, and I am personally committed, to continue striving toward a deal that will return all of our hostages and ensure our security and our existence,” he added.
The protesters have vowed to continue demonstrating until Netanyahu agrees to a cease-fire and hostage release deal.
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