Nationwide Protest Erupt as Israel Plans Gaza City Offensive
Roadblocks and General Strike Target Public Order
Hundreds of demonstrators blocked the Tel Aviv‑Jerusalem highway, setting tires on fire and creating extensive jams.
Families of hostages called for a full‑day strike on Sunday, the first day of the Israeli work week, closing many businesses in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
At a rally in Jerusalem, 54‑year‑old tour guide Doron Wilf urged authorities to “end the war, release all captives and usher Israel toward a stable Middle East.”
Hostage Families Demand Immediate Return
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum vowed to “pull back 50 hostages and bring the war to an end.”
They planned a protest tent near the Gaza border “to push the struggle forward so every beloved one is returned.”
Forum spokesperson warned, “If we do not bring them back now – we will lose them forever.”
International Mediation Reaches 60‑Day Truce Hopes
Egypt announced that mediators are pushing for a 60‑day ceasefire that would include hostages’ release after last Qatar talks stalled.
Viki Cohen, whose son is held in Gaza, posted on X, “I hope you have access to media in the tunnels, and may you see how the people pause for you.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog called on global pressure on Hamas, asserting, “We want them back as soon as possible.”
Far‑Right Officials Criticize Demo Campaign
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich labeled the protests a “perverse and harmful campaign that plays into Hamas’s hands.
He argued that public pressure would “bury the hostages in tunnels, push Israel to surrender, jeopardise security and future.”
Culture Minister Miki Zohar warned that road blockages “are a serious mistake and reward to the enemy.”
Police Enforce Public Order, Threatening Disruption
Israeli police bolstered forces, declaring no “public order disturbances” would be tolerated.
They urged protesters to cease traffic disruptions and return to normal civic life.
Famine Warning Amplifies Domestic Resistance
AFPTV footage showed protests near the kibbutz of Beeri, one of the hardest‑hit communities during Hamas’s October 2023 attack.
UN‑backed experts warned that Israel’s tightened aid restrictions could spark widespread famine in Gaza.
Over 61,897 Palestinians, most civilians, have been killed in the conflict, according to Hamas‑run Gaza health ministry reports, which the United Nations regards as reliable.
Key Numbers and Context
Israel’s security cabinet approved plans to capture Gaza City more than a week after the war began.
Since the conflict’s start, 49 hostages remain captive in Gaza, including 27 believed dead by the Israeli military.
During the initial October attack, Hamas took 251 people hostage.
Israel’s offensive has already caused over 61,897 Palestinian casualties.
