On Tuesday, tens of thousands of demonstrators poured onto the streets in cities and towns across Israel. They joined in a “day of disruption” to urge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to accept negotiations to halt the months-long war raging in Gaza. The protests made headlines as the demonstrators shut down highways and occupied statehouses. These actions exposed the deepening anger of citizens at the government’s handling of the conflict and treatment of hostages held by Hamas.
Netanyahu, who has maintained that military action is vital for Israel’s security and for exerting pressure on Hamas to release hostages, faces increasing scrutiny from both the public and relatives of those captured. He is under huge duress from radical far-right elements within his weak coalition government. These factions have threatened to pull support from him if he so much as entertains a ceasefire deal as they worry this would undercut Israel’s planned military campaign.
Humanitarian organizations have sounded the alarm on the deteriorating conditions in Gaza, calling attention to famine and civilian casualties. Netanyahu has run roughshod over these concerns against attacking a civilian population center like Gaza City. His handling of families of hostages has drawn fierce criticism from them. They berate him for caring more about his political survival than the lives of those who are remaining captives.
Einav Zangauker, whose 25-year-old son Matan is still in Gaza, expressed her frustration, stating, “We could have saved hostages and soldiers, but the prime minister chose, again and again, to sacrifice civilians for the sake of his rule.”
The protests reached a fever pitch following last week’s strike on a hospital in Gaza. Tragically, the strike killed 20 civilians— including five journalists. This catastrophic incident has further galvanized outrage around the world toward Netanyahu’s administration and its military tactics. Even the Israeli government’s controversial claim that “there are no innocents in Gaza” finds popularity among most of the population. About three out of every four Jewish Israelis at least somewhat agree with this statement.
In Tel Aviv, families of hostages were at the forefront of a large protest. At the same time, hundreds protested outside of Netanyahu’s office in Jerusalem while the security cabinet debated further military operations. Against this backdrop, Qatar’s foreign ministry called on Israel to agree to a ceasefire. They demanded the release of hostages, an agreement already reached by Hamas, which could place further pressure on Netanyahu.
As the latest round of protests began, many protesters found themselves saying the same thing about the humanitarian crisis. Carmen, a 58-year-old protester, articulated the collective desire for peace: “We just want to stop the war, bring home the hostages and stop the starvation in Gaza.”
According to Israeli media, Netanyahu’s government is accelerating preparations for a major ground offensive targeting Gaza City. This occurs in the face of growing international pressure to cease the hostilities. At Tuesday’s weekly cabinet meeting, these leaders missed an opportunity to do just that. This reflects a fight between them about how to counter the increasing public backlash.
Today, a clear majority of Israelis support stopping military operations to help bring about a ceasefire and secure the release of all remaining hostages. It should continue to shape Netanyahu’s choices going forward, as he balances increasing international pressure with growing domestic dissent.
“Attempts to stall by shifting locations or other tactics are clear to the international community, and it is time for Israel to give a serious answer to what it has already agreed to in the past.” – Majed al-Ansari