Mounting Pressure on Netanyahu: Israelis Demand Hostage Release, End to Gaza War as Protests Swell

A stark division continues to grip Israel, as massive public protests demanding a hostage deal and an end to the Gaza war clash dramatically with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s steadfast commitment to expanding military operations and settlements. While tens of thousands recently filled Tel Aviv’s streets, vehemently calling for a ceasefire and the immediate return of hostages from Gaza, Prime Minister Netanyahu, addressing supporters in Jerusalem, projected an image of national unity and pledged ‘the path to victory,’ vowing to widen the nearly two-year conflict.

Recent polls consistently indicate that a significant majority of Israelis support any agreement that would secure the release of the remaining hostages and bring an end to the protracted war. Protesters voiced deep concerns for national healing and demanded accountability, starkly contrasting with Netanyahu’s focus on expanding Jewish settlements in the occupied West Bank and his optimistic pronouncements of ‘a bright future ahead.’ This stark juxtaposition underscores a perceived indifference and detachment from the Netanyahu government towards the growing public consensus demanding an end to the conflict and the safe return of the remaining captives.

With the war in Gaza nearing its two-year mark, consistent polling reveals strong public support for a deal to bring home the estimated 50 remaining hostages. For weeks, massive protests have convened at Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square and across the nation, rallying behind the families desperate for the release of those captured by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Following Prime Minister Netanyahu’s decision to escalate the conflict with a major operation in Gaza City, public protests have surged, drawing hundreds of thousands. The scale of this mobilization is undeniable: on August 17, an unprecedented grassroots strike led by hostage families reportedly drew nearly 500,000 participants, with demonstrations consistently growing in size week after week.

This past Tuesday, as part of an ongoing campaign to pressure the government, hostage families orchestrated another nationwide day of protest, culminating in an evening rally in Tel Aviv that organizers estimate drew 300,000 demonstrators. ‘Enough!’ cried Sylvia Cunio, mother of hostage brothers David and Ariel Cunio, reflecting the public’s exasperation. Haim Rubinstein, a strategic consultant and co-founder of the Hostages Families’ Forum, emphasizes that solidarity fuels these demonstrations. ‘People come to the rallies to tell the families: This battle is not only yours, it’s every Israeli’s battle, over the character and spirit of the country, over the value of mutual responsibility upon which Israel was founded,’ Rubinstein stated. ‘Israelis understand we are now at a decisive juncture – conquering Gaza or releasing the hostages. They come here to tell the government to end the war and bring our brothers and sisters back home.’

Despite this overwhelming public pressure, Prime Minister Netanyahu appears resolute in pursuing plans for a large-scale assault on Gaza City, seemingly disregarding the hostage families’ fears that such an offensive could jeopardize their loved ones, with an estimated 20 still believed to be alive. Netanyahu and his allies have controversially labeled the protests as ‘aiding Hamas,’ with the Prime Minister stating last week that ‘Those who call for ending the war are pushing off the hostages’ release and guaranteeing the horrors of the massacre will return.’ This perceived disconnect between the government and the public appears to further galvanize demonstrators. Batya Aviram, a protester, told CNN, ‘We come, first and foremost, to support the families and to shout about what is happening in our country. It gives me a chance to meet with amazing empathetic people who care and are willing to act so that Israel stays a sane country.’ She added that the protests also aim to convey a message to the international community: ‘We come so that people outside, in the world, see and hear us, so they know that the people of Israel are not their leadership, and know to distinguish between us and our government.’

The recent surge in protests has successfully propelled the hostage families’ plight back to the forefront of national and international attention. Families have pledged to intensify their pressure, convinced it is the only path to compel both Netanyahu and the White House towards a resolution. ‘We are the water drops that wear down the stone, and something will eventually happen because we’re fighting for our future,’ affirmed Yael Adar, mother of deceased hostage Tamir Adar. ‘If we didn’t believe we could make a difference, we wouldn’t be here. This is the only way to bring them back home.’ Amidst Netanyahu’s unyielding stance, diplomatic progress seemed possible last week when Hamas accepted the latest Qatari- and Egyptian-mediated ceasefire proposal. However, more than a week has now passed without an official Israeli response. The Prime Minister’s priorities were starkly illustrated this past Tuesday: a security cabinet meeting, the first since the Gaza City operation’s approval and Hamas’s truce acceptance, was reportedly cut short to accommodate Netanyahu’s scheduled celebration with Jewish settler leaders in the West Bank, even as mass protests unfolded in Tel Aviv.

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