Thousands of Israelis took to the streets Sunday night, angered and grieving after six hostages held by Hamas were found dead in Gaza. The protesters demanded that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secure a cease-fire with Hamas to ensure the safe return of the remaining captives. The bodies were discovered in a tunnel under Gaza’s Rafah city on Saturday, with autopsies revealing they were shot at close range.
Among the dead was Hersh Goldberg-Polin, an Israeli-American who had lost his arm during a Hamas attack on a peace festival in Israel on October 7. His family, devastated by the news, thanked the public for their support and requested privacy.
The mass protests, which some believe could be a turning point in the nearly year-long war, also saw Israel’s largest trade union, Histadrut, calling for a general strike to pressure the government into action.
Although Netanyahu vowed to continue fighting until Hamas is defeated, critics accused him of prioritizing personal interests over the hostages’ lives, warning that the war’s end could lead to investigations into his government’s handling of the conflict.
Divisions within Israel’s government have also surfaced, with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant urging immediate action to secure a cease-fire, citing the challenges of rescuing hostages through military means. Amid this turmoil, the families of the hostages demanded a halt to the country’s operations until a deal for their release is secured.
Despite the growing public and political pressure, Netanyahu still maintains a majority in parliament, though his history of yielding to public demands leaves open the possibility of a shift in strategy.
