Tens of thousands of Israelis staged large-scale demonstrations across several cities, including Tel Aviv, Haifa, Be’er Sheva, and occupied Jerusalem, calling for an immediate end to the war in Gaza and a deal to secure the release of hostages.
The protests, which usually take place on Saturday evenings, saw unusually wide participation this time from families of hostages as well as members of the political opposition. Demonstrators carried banners urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to halt the war and prioritize a prisoner exchange agreement.
Families of hostages have stepped up their efforts in recent days, sending letters to U.S. President Donald Trump and meeting with American officials, coinciding with the visit of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Israel. In a statement released Sunday, the Hostages’ Families Forum accused Netanyahu of deliberately obstructing a potential deal and targeting mediators who attempt to advance negotiations.
Despite months of weekly demonstrations since October 7, protesters say their pressure has yet to yield meaningful results. Opinion polls, however, indicate that a majority of Israelis support a ceasefire and an agreement to secure the release of captives.
Many demonstrators argue that Netanyahu is prolonging the war for political rather than security reasons, accusing him of seeking domestic political gains at the expense of the suffering of hostages and their families. Protest leaders have urged the United States to intensify pressure on the Israeli government to move toward a comprehensive agreement.
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