Tens of thousands of Israelis protest Netanyahu’s decision to occupy Gaza

CAIRO – 10 August 2025: Tens of thousands of demonstrators on Saturday night flooded the streets of Tel Aviv to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s intentions to intensify military operations in Gaza.

Organizers estimated that over 100,000 people participated in the rally, according to The Guardian, calling for an immediate halt to the offensive and the safe return of captives still held in Gaza.

On Friday, The Israeli security cabinet approved Netanyahu’s plan to seize Gaza City, located in the northern part of the enclave and is home to hundreds of thousands of civilians, many of whom have been displaced multiple times during the war.

The five-point plan also includes imposing Israeli “security control” over the entire Gaza Strip, disarming Hamas, returning all captives, ensuring the demilitarization of Gaza, and establishing an alternative civil administration unaffiliated with either Hamas or the Palestinian Authority.

Israeli media reports suggest the operation will begin with the full takeover of Gaza City, involving the forced relocation of up to one million residents to southern parts of the strip.

The decision threatens to deepen the humanitarian crisis as Israel has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza, displaced the entire population, and left the enclave facing an imminent famine with over 200 starvation-related deaths, half of them children.

The scheme has drawn Arab and global backlash, including from Israel’s closest allies in the west like the United Kingdom as well as Germany that has decided to suspend all arms exports to Israel as a consequence, and ignited protests within Israel and abroad.

Tens of thousands of Israelis protest in Tel Aviv's Hostages Square Netanyahu’s decision to occupy Gaza – Photo from ‘Bring Them Home Now’

Lishay Miran Lavi, wife of captive Omri Miran, was quoted by The Guardian as saying that Netanyahu’s decision represents a potential “death sentence” for the captives.

Recent surveys indicate that a strong majority of Israelis support halting the war immediately in hopes of securing the release of around 50 remaining hostages, though officials believe only around 20 are still alive.

The captives who have been released so far were freed primarily through diplomatic efforts, which led to two pauses in the fighting since the start of the war in October 2023.

The latest of the two ceasefires—both were mediated by Egypt, Qatar and the US—led to the release of 38 captives from Gaza, 30 of whom were alive.

However, negotiations that might have led to a ceasefire and further releases fell apart in July after the US and Israel announced quitting the talks and seeking “alternative” methods to bring back the captives.

Rami Dar, a retiree attending the protests, accused Netanyahu’s government of “damaging the country” through their “reckless” decisions.

The protesters carried Israeli flags, images of captives, and banners criticizing the government. Some signs called on US President Donald Trump to intervene and block Netanyahu’s push to intensify the conflict,

Meanwhile, some protestors displayed photos of children who have died in Gaza as a result of the military campaign.

Israel has killed more than 61,300 people since the start of the war, many of them are women and children, damaged the enclave’s basic facilities including hospitals, and triggered widespread disease, malnutrition and imminent famine.

Israel has imposed severe restrictions on humanitarian aid, amounting to a full blockade for nearly three months this year.

According to Gaza’s health ministry, more than 200 people have died from starvation and malnutrition so far, nearly half of them children.

UN human rights chief Volker Türk said the Israeli government’s plan for a full military takeover of Gaza “must be immediately halted.”