Protests in Israel demand an end to the war in Gaza

• Hundreds of thousands of protesters are demanding an end to the war in Gaza.
• The protests were held nationally on strike and blocking roads.
• Israeli military actions have resulted in significant civilian casualties among Palestinians.

Last week in Israel, mass protests took place, during which hundreds of thousands of people demanded an end to the war in Gaza and agreements for the release of hostages taken by Hamas. The largest action occurred in the square of hostages in Tel Aviv, where organizers stated that government plans regarding the hostage situation put the lives of nearly 20 hostages at risk.

Protesters blocked roads, closed universities and offices, organizing a unified national strike. During the protests, nearly 40 individuals were detained. Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu criticized the actions, asserting that they only exacerbate the situation with the release of hostages.

The finance minister Bezalel Smotrich also condemned the protests, calling them "a destructive campaign" that plays into Hamas's hands. Families of hostages, including the mother of one of them, expressed demands for achieving "a comprehensive and realistic agreement" and called for an end to the war.

Israeli military actions have resulted in the deaths of over 61,900 Palestinians, according to data provided by the Ministry of Health in Gaza. Recently, the situation in Gaza has worsened, particularly with reported incidents of famine and deprivation. The Israeli government plans to temporarily relocate the population from Gaza to the southern part of the region, although the exact timing of this operation remains unknown.

Tags: Middle East/Politics