Thousands of Israeli citizens filled the center of Tel Aviv on the night of Friday, August 9, 2025, to demand an end to the war in Gaza. As reported by Al Arabiya, the number of participants was estimated to reach tens of thousands, while the hostage families claimed that up to 100,000 people took part. This gathering was said to be much larger than previous anti-war protests.

The crowd carried posters demanding a ceasefire and photos of the hostages still held in Gaza. “This is not just a military decision. This could be a death sentence for the people we love the most,” said Lishay Miran Lavi, the wife of hostage Omri Miran, in her speech, quoted from ABC News. She also pleaded with the President of the United States, Donald Trump, to intervene and end the war.

Pressure from Hostage Families

Shahar Mor Zahiro, a relative of one of the deceased hostages, sent a direct message to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “If you invade parts of Gaza and the hostages are killed, we will pursue you in the city square, during the election campaign, and at any time and place,” he said.

Public opinion polls also show that the majority of Israeli citizens want the war to end immediately for the release of about 50 hostages still held in Gaza. Israeli officials estimate that only about 20 people are still alive. The government stated that 49 out of 251 hostages captured by Hamas in the 2023 attack are still in Gaza, including 27 who were said to have died.

Plan to Invade Gaza City

A day before the protest, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s office announced that the security cabinet approved a major operation to seize Gaza City, despite widespread criticism at home and abroad. Last Friday, Netanyahu stressed, “We will not occupy Gaza, we will free Gaza from Hamas.”

The cabinet also established the principle of forming a new government in Gaza that is not managed by Hamas or the Palestinian Authority (PA). According to the official Palestinian news agency, Wafa, President Mahmoud Abbas called the plan a new crime and emphasized the need for immediate action to stop it. He also emphasized the importance of granting full authority to the Palestinian state to manage Gaza.

Several allied countries of Israel, including Italy, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, have criticized the plan to occupy Gaza City. “This step will worsen an already dire humanitarian situation, endanger the lives of the hostages, and increase the risk of a mass civilian exodus,” said a joint statement by the foreign ministers. Russia also condemned the plan. In a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the move was considered to risk exacerbating the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

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