Protesters in Tel Aviv demand Gaza ceasefire, hostage deal

Demonstrators in Israel are calling for a return to negotiations with Hamas to end the war and secure the release of remaining hostages.

Israeli protesters gathered in Tel Aviv to demand an end to the war in Gaza and the release of hostages still held by Hamas.

Demonstrators urged the government to return to negotiations, saying diplomacy is the only way to bring the remaining captives home.

Since the collapse of a ceasefire in March, Israeli forces have pushed deeper into Gaza, creating wide buffer zones and squeezing much of the 2.3 million population into increasingly crowded areas along the coast and center of the enclave. Aid trucks have also been largely blocked from entering.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that while Israel seeks the return of 59 hostages — of whom up to 24 are believed to be alive — its ultimate goal remains the defeat of Hamas.

The war was sparked by Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,200 people and led to 251 hostages being taken into Gaza. Israel’s ongoing response has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians, with aid agencies warning that the blockade has pushed Gaza to the brink of humanitarian catastrophe.

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