Israeli Protesters Call for Cease-Fire and Prime Minister’s Resignation in Gaza War Anniversary Demonstration

Protests Erupt in Israel as War in Gaza Continues

Nine months since the war in Gaza began, Israeli protesters took to the streets on Sunday to demand Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s resignation and push for a cease-fire to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas. The demonstrations coincide with ongoing efforts to broker a truce, which gained momentum last week when Hamas dropped a key demand for an Israeli commitment to end the war. While Hamas still seeks a permanent cease-fire, Netanyahu has vowed to continue fighting until Hamas is destroyed.

Dubbed the “Day of Disruption,” the protests began at 6:29 a.m., the same time Hamas militants launched the first rockets towards Israel in the October 7 attack that triggered the war. Protesters blocked major highways and rallied outside the homes of government ministers. Near the Gaza border, Israeli protestors released 1,500 black and yellow balloons to symbolize the lives lost and abducted during the conflict.

Hannah Golan, one of the protesters, expressed her frustration with the government, saying, “It’s been nine months today since this black day, and still nobody in our government takes responsibility for the devastating abandonment of our communities.”

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza, Palestinian militants killed approximately 1,200 people and took 250 others hostage in their initial surprise attack. In response, Israel launched a retaliatory offensive that has resulted in the deaths of over 38,000 Palestinians. It’s important to note that the Palestinian Health Ministry does not differentiate between combatants and civilians in its count.

Currently, approximately 120 hostages remain captive, despite more than 100 hostages being released as part of a November cease-fire deal. Israel has already confirmed that over 40 of the remaining hostages are dead, and there are concerns that this number will increase as the war continues.

The United States has been working to rally support for a phased cease-fire proposal, which would involve Hamas releasing the remaining captives in exchange for a lasting cease-fire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. However, Hamas insists on guarantees that the war will end, while Israel wants the flexibility to resume fighting if negotiations over the release of the last batch of hostages drag on.

Netanyahu has also reiterated Israel’s commitment to destroying Hamas’ military and governing capabilities. He has emphasized that Israel would resume the war after a pause to release hostages.

Despite months of heavy bombing and ground operations that have severely impacted Gaza’s main cities and displaced most of its population, Israel continues to battle pockets of Palestinian militants across the region. On Sunday, new evacuation orders were issued for parts of Gaza City, which had already been heavily bombed and largely emptied early in the conflict.

In a concerning development, the bodies of three Palestinians were found near the Kerem Shalom crossing with Israel. According to a statement from Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, the bodies were handcuffed, indicating signs of mistreatment. The Israeli military has stated that it is looking into these reports.

Throughout the conflict, thousands of Palestinians have been detained, and many detainees, as well as some Israelis who have worked at detention facilities, have reported torture and harsh treatment. Israeli authorities deny these allegations.

Overnight airstrikes conducted by Israel resulted in the deaths of at least 13 Palestinians, including Ihab al-Ghussein, the undersecretary of labor in the largely dismantled Hamas-run government. Al-Ghussein was among four people killed in a strike on a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City. The Israeli military maintains that it struck a militant complex in the area but took precautions to minimize harm to civilians.

In addition to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, tensions between Israel and Lebanon have escalated. The Lebanese militant group Hezbollah launched dozens of projectiles towards northern Israel, targeting areas over 30 kilometers (20 miles) from the border. One man was seriously wounded in the attack, and three people were injured near the border. Hezbollah has stated that it will halt its attacks if a cease-fire is reached in Gaza.

Mediators from the United States, Egypt, and Qatar have intensified their efforts to broker an agreement between Israel and Hamas. Hamas’s compromise on Saturday could potentially result in the first pause in fighting since November and pave the way for further negotiations. However, all parties involved caution that a deal is not yet guaranteed.

War-weary Palestinians in Gaza remain skeptical about the prospects of a cease-fire, given previous instances where progress towards a resolution has been elusive. Heba Radi, a mother of six children living in a tent in Deir al-Balah, expressed her frustration, saying, “The cease-fire has become a distant dream.”