Massive protests have rocked Tel Aviv as thousands of Israelis gathered in the heart of the city, calling on the government to end the ongoing war in Gaza and secure the immediate release of Israeli hostages still held there.
According to Israeli newspaper Haaretz, the Hostages and Missing Families Forum held its weekly rally on Saturday (May 10) at Hostages Square. Simultaneously, another protest by the families of hostages took place outside the Israeli military headquarters. An additional anti-government demonstration was held at Habima Square, further intensifying the unrest.
Participants voiced their growing frustration with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. One protester, Shai Moses—a relative of a former hostage—stated at the Habima Square protest, “Hamas is not the real enemy. Netanyahu is. He is destroying Israel as a Jewish and democratic state.”
Al Jazeera’s journalist Hamda Salhut spoke to several families of the hostages who are still believed to be held in Gaza. They accused Netanyahu of prolonging the war for personal and political gain, showing no willingness to compromise for a ceasefire deal. As of now, 59 hostages remain in Gaza—Israeli officials have confirmed the deaths of 35, while 21 are believed to still be alive, and the fate of 3 remains unknown.
Despite increasing public pressure, Israeli officials have announced plans to expand military operations in Gaza, rejecting the idea of a ceasefire. They maintain that military action is the most effective way to secure the release of hostages. However, many Israelis, including the families of the captives, strongly disagree with this strategy.
Meanwhile, in the Gaza Strip, Israeli airstrikes have intensified amid a month-long blockade, pushing the region further into humanitarian crisis. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 23 Palestinians, including several children, were killed in the past 24 hours, and 124 others were injured—many of them critically, raising fears that the death toll could rise.
