At the same time, Israel is experiencing a wave of countrywide demonstrations. Public frustration over the current humanitarian crisis resulting from the war in Gaza, including thousands of civilian deaths and mass displacement, is at a boiling point. The country’s air and ground operations have already displaced a significant portion of Gaza’s population, with the Gaza Health Ministry reporting over 61,900 people killed since the conflict began. Alarmingly, nearly 50% of those deaths are women and children, highlighting the magnitude of the military’s impact here through these devastating military actions.
On Sunday, the already grave humanitarian situation took a tragic turn as two children and five adults were reported to have died from malnutrition-related causes. The dire conditions in Gaza have been exacerbated by a total blockade imposed by Israel since March, which has severely restricted aid access. Hospitals and other eyewitnesses have accused Israeli forces of killing at least 17 medical workers and persons in need of assistance on that particular day alone.
Tens of thousands of Jewish protesters poured into the streets, calling for their government to negotiate a deal to free hostages held in Gaza. Their goal was to stop the country with a one-day work stoppage. Israeli police responded to the demonstrations with water cannons and made numerous arrests, reflecting the rising tensions between the government and its citizens.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s government only intensifies pressure on him and his government to balance Israel’s fight against terrorism and protect innocent civilians. Dozens of hostages, including elderly and young captives, are still believed to be alive in Gaza. Netanyahu’s statements refer to the October 2023 Hamas-led incursion into Israel, which killed at least 1,200 Israelis. The Prime Minister acknowledges the need to bring the hostages back, stating, “The only way to bring (hostages) back is through a deal, all at once, without games,” according to Arbel Yehoud.
The Israeli government has downplayed casualty figures in spite of the extraordinary call on the government. It has so far refused to release its own counts of people killed on Gaza. This failure of transparency has stoked the flames of public anger, lighting up a fire of protest that has spread across the country.
As protests escalated, demonstrators voiced their frustration and hopelessness as the future grew bleaker. One protester, Hamza Asfour, articulated the gravity of their plight: “It’s either to take this risk or wait and see my family die of starvation.” Civil activist Raghda Abu Dhaher reiterated feelings of hopelessness, saying of humanitarian zones, “They don’t exist, there are no humanitarian zones.”
In response to these protests and the ongoing crisis, Israel’s military announced plans to forcibly evacuate civilians from combat zones to southern Gaza “for their protection,” according to COGAT. Given the extreme vulnerability of our seniors, primarily elderly women of color, this move is further exacerbating their displacement.
At the same time, Israel has widened its military operations past Gaza, including jeopardizing the humanitarian corridor to Egypt. Meanwhile, airstrikes on Sunday struck Yemen’s capital in the latest Saudi-led escalation against Iran-backed Houthi rebels. This wider military strategy points to a complex approach as Israel acts against domestic discord and a backdrop of growing regional hostility.
That situation is very much still in flux as Netanyahu tries to juggle various Islamist and Arab pressures to within his coalition government. These far-right factions have already used their political leverage to threaten bringing down his administration should he move toward ceasefires that include the release of hostages.
As protests continue and humanitarian conditions worsen, many Israelis are left questioning the government’s strategy and the toll of continued military actions. As the violence in Gaza continues, we stand at a perilous crossroads. Its implications for both Israelis and Palestinians are primary, non-derivative issues that deserve and require our immediate attention.