Tel aviv: Tens of thousands of Israelis gathered nationwide on Saturday, staging protests to demand the release of hostages held in the Gaza Strip. Demonstrations unfolded in cities such as Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
According to Anadolu Agency, these protests were set against the backdrop of a recent 12-day conflict between Israel and Iran. The conflict began on June 13 when Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian sites, resulting in at least 606 fatalities and injuring 5,332 individuals, as reported by the Iranian Health Ministry. In response, Tehran's retaliatory strikes killed at least 29 people and injured more than 3,400 in Israel, based on figures from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. A US-sponsored ceasefire took effect on June 24, bringing the conflict to a halt.
US President Donald Trump, following the ceasefire between Tel Aviv and Tehran, expressed optimism about reaching a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip soon. However, Israeli officials, as reported by the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, indicated surprise at Trump's comments, stating there were no signs of a shift in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stance.
Hamas has communicated its willingness to release Israeli hostages in exchange for the cessation of what it terms Israel's genocidal war, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners. Netanyahu, facing international legal scrutiny, favors partial agreements while imposing new conditions such as the disarmament of Palestinian factions.
The Israeli opposition has accused Netanyahu of using the Gaza situation to serve his political interests, particularly to maintain power. Israel estimates 50 Israeli hostages are in Gaza, including 20 alive. Meanwhile, over 10,400 Palestinians are imprisoned in Israel, reportedly facing harsh conditions, according to human rights and media reports.
Despite international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli military continues its offensive in Gaza, resulting in over 56,400 Palestinian deaths, primarily women and children. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes in Gaza. Additionally, Israel is facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.