Israel Rocked by Mass Protests Demanding Immediate Hostage Deal and Gaza War End

Tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets across the nation on Sunday, August 17, 2025, in widespread protests demanding an immediate deal to free hostages held in Gaza and an end to the ongoing war. Police responded with water cannons and made 38 arrests as demonstrators aimed to disrupt daily life with a one-day strike, blocking roads and closing businesses.

Organized by groups representing hostage families, the demonstrations reflect escalating frustration over the government’s handling of the crisis and fears surrounding plans for a new military offensive in densely populated areas of Gaza. Protesters chanted, “We don’t win a war over the bodies of hostages,” highlighting concerns that further military action could endanger the remaining 50 captives, 20 of whom are believed to still be alive. Even former Israeli army and intelligence chiefs are now publicly advocating for a deal to halt the fighting.

The protests underscore the deep divisions within Israel, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu facing immense pressure to balance calls for hostage release with his stated goal of defeating Hamas. Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to ending the war without dismantling Hamas, warning that such a move would “ensure that the horrors of Oct. 7 will be repeated.” His Finance Minister, Bezalel Smotrich, condemned the protests as a “bad and harmful campaign that plays into Hamas’ hands.”

Meanwhile, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen. On the same day as the protests, hospitals and witnesses in Gaza reported that Israeli forces killed at least 17 aid-seekers, including nine awaiting U.N. aid trucks. This incident, while disputed by the Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, adds to growing outrage over civilian conditions, with more than 250 malnutrition-related deaths reported since the war began, including seven on Sunday. The United Nations warns of unprecedented levels of starvation and malnutrition.

As Israel prepares for a potential new military offensive in Gaza City, Muwasi, and the “central camps,” the humanitarian outlook remains bleak. Israeli military body COGAT has outlined plans for forced evacuations to designated “safe zones” in southern Gaza, but war-weary Palestinians steadfastly refuse to leave, asserting there is “no safe place” left in the strip.

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