Over 100,000 in Tel Aviv Protest Gaza Occupation Plan

Date: 10 August 2025 - 21:48

News ID: ۱۴۲۳۹۵

TEL AVIV (Dispatches) --
Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday night to oppose Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to escalate the war on Gaza.
A day earlier, the Israeli prime minister’s office said the security cabinet had decided to seize Gaza City, expanding the invasion of the devastated Palestinian territory despite widespread public opposition and warnings from the military the move could endanger the captives.
Late Saturday’s demonstration in Tel Aviv attracted more than 100,000 protesters, according to organizers. Attenders demanded an immediate end to the military campaign and for the release of hostages.
Public opinion polls show an overwhelming majority of Jewish settlers favor an immediate end to the war to secure the release of the remaining 50 captives held in Gaza. Israeli officials believe about 20 captives are still alive.
The Israeli regime has faced sharp criticism, including from some of its closest European allies, over the announcement that the military would expand the war. The full cabinet was expected to give its approval as soon as Sunday.
Most of the captives who have been freed emerged as a result of diplomatic negotiations. Talks toward a ceasefire that could have seen more captives released collapsed in July because of Israeli breaches.
“They (the regime) are fanatic,” said Rami Dar, 69-year-old retiree, who travelled from a nearby suburb outside Tel Aviv.
Tel Aviv has seen frequent rallies urging the Zionist regime to reach a ceasefire and captives deal with Hamas.
“Frankly, I’m not an expert or anything, but I feel that after two years of fighting there has been no success,” said Yana, 45, who attended the rally with her husband and two children.
Protesters held signs directing anger at the Zionist regime or urging U.S. President Donald Trump to take action to stop prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu from moving forward with plans to escalate the war. A small number of protesters held images of children killed by the Israeli military in Gaza.
Israel’s military has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians in the war, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Some of the prime minister’s far-right coalition allies have been pushing for a total takeover of Gaza. The military has warned this could endanger the lives of the captives in Gaza.
Far-right minister Bezalel Smotrich, a proponent of continuing the war, issued a statement on Saturday criticizing Netanyahu and calling for the annexation of large parts of Gaza.
Netanyahu told Fox News in an interview that aired on Thursday that the military intended to take control of all Gaza.
Tal, a 55-year-old high school teacher, told Reuters at the rally in Tel Aviv that expanding the war was “terrible”. He said the war should end with the military withdrawing: “We don’t have anything to do there. It’s not ours.”