As the Israeli military expands its assault on Gaza City, Israeli demonstrators took to the streets Saturday evening, driven by a new sense of urgency to demand the government halt the operation and prioritize a ceasefire deal.
Over the weekend, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) escalated its offensive, striking two high-rise buildings in Gaza City, only to amplify fears and heighten concerns among hostage families that ongoing operations could endanger their relatives after more than 700 days in captivity.
In a social media post with video of one of the strikes on Saturday, Defense Minister Israel Katz said, “We continue,” showing the government’s clear intent to keep pounding Gaza City.
Hours later, the protests began.
Alongside the weekly demonstrations in Tel Aviv, another group protested in Jerusalem outside the Prime Minister’s residence, the culmination of four days of targeted pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu and his government.
“We are in critical minutes,” said Viki Cohen, mother of the hostage Nimrod Cohen, addressing the Jerusalem crowd. “It is possible that at this very moment the fate of my son is being decided.”
The protests appeared to intensify following a 48-hour period that underscored the hostages’ precarious situation. On Friday, as the Gaza war reached its 700th day, Hamas released new propaganda footage of two hostages – Guy Gilboa-Dalal and Alon Ohel – being driven through Gaza City. The video marked the first appearance of 24-year-old Ohel since his capture by Hamas during the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
Hours later, US President Donald Trump told White House reporters that some of the 20 hostages presumed alive in Gaza may have “recently died,” repeating similar comments from last month suggesting “probably” fewer than 20 of the remaining hostages were still alive.
Israel’s official hostage tally has not changed, with 48 remaining in Gaza, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
