Mass protests in Israel demand action for Gaza captives’ release

An estimated 750,000 people have taken to the streets, demanding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government secure a deal to free the remaining captives held in Gaza.

The massive demonstration follows the Israeli Army’s recent discovery of six captive bodies in a tunnel in southern Gaza, intensifying public outrage over the government’s inability to negotiate a resolution.

Organizers reported that 500,000 protesters gathered in Tel Aviv, while another 250,000 joined rallies across the country. Families of the captives and their supporters are holding Netanyahu accountable for failing to secure the captives’ release, insisting that military pressure alone won’t resolve the situation. More than 100 captives remain in Gaza, though the Israeli military believes that one-third may already be dead. So far, 105 captives were released in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners in a deal with Hamas in November.

Speaking at the Tel Aviv rally, Danielle Aloni, a former captive, directly addressed the Prime Minister, saying, “Mr Prime Minister, a few days ago, you stood in front of the families of the captives and said, sorry that we’re not able to bring them back alive. But what kind of forgiveness is that if you do not intend to change your ways? We will not forgive.”

The protests reflect growing frustration, with increasing numbers of Israelis calling for a lasting ceasefire as the path to bringing the captives home. Libby Lenkinski, vice president for public engagement at the New Israel Fund, noted that this sentiment has been building. “There were groups of protesters calling for a ceasefire as early as November and December [last year], and I think that number has been growing in a pretty steady way,” she said, adding that the protests have swelled significantly in the past week.

The pressure on Netanyahu’s government comes as more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the war began, alongside widespread destruction of the region. International criticism of Israel’s actions continues to grow, adding to the complexity of resolving the conflict and securing a ceasefire. While protests rage, Netanyahu maintains that military action remains the primary means of recovering the remaining captives, but a diplomatic breakthrough remains elusive.