Israelis rally nationwide demanding end to Gaza war and release of hostages ahead of new offensive

People staged demonstrations across Israel on Sunday urging an end to the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the release of hostages as the military prepares for a new offensive in the Palestinian territory.

The protests follow last week’s approval by Israel’s security cabinet to capture Gaza City, amid a conflict that has lasted nearly two years and caused significant humanitarian strain.

The current war stems from Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel which left 251 people in captivity. Israeli authorities say 49 remain held in Gaza including 27 confirmed dead.

In Tel Aviv, protesters displayed a massive Israeli flag covered with images of the hostages in Hostage Square, a long time rallying point for public demonstrations. Road blockages including the main highway between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, disrupted traffic as tires were set alight.

Police reinforced their presence, announcing 32 arrests and warning that disruptions to public order would not be tolerated.

Organisers of the protests, along with groups representing hostage families called for a general strike, prompting many businesses in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to close for the day.

“I think it’s time to end the war. It’s time to release all of the hostages. And it’s time to help Israel recover and move towards a more stable Middle East,” said Doron Wilfand, a 54-year-old tour guide, at a rally in Jerusalem.

Meanwhile, Palestinian terrorists group Hamas said on Sunday that Israel’s plan to relocate residents from Gaza City constitutes a “new wave of genocide and displacement” for hundreds of thousands of residents in the area.

The group said the planned deployment of tents and other shelter equipment by Israel into southern Gaza was a “blatant deception”.

The Israeli military has said it is preparing to provide tents and other equipment starting from Sunday ahead of its plan to relocate residents from combat zones to the south of the enclave “to ensure their safety”.

Hamas said in a statement that the deployment of tents under the guise of humanitarian purposes is a blatant deception intended to “cover up a brutal crime that the occupation forces prepare to execute”.

Israel said earlier this month that it intended to launch a new offensive to seize control of northern Gaza City, the enclave’s largest urban centre. The plan has raised international alarm over the fate of the demolished strip, which is home to about 2.2 million people.

The war began when Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages, according to Israeli authorities. About 20 of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza are believed to be still alive.

Israel’s subsequent military assault against Hamas has killed over 61,000 Palestinians, Gaza’s health ministry says. It has also caused a hunger crisis, internally displaced most of Gaza’s population and left much of the enclave in ruins.

With inputs from agencies