TEHRAN – Escalating Israeli protests against the regime’s failed military strategy in Gaza reveal deep internal divisions.
Protesters sought an end to the war in Gaza, and the return of the prisoners took them to the streets of Israel. Some demonstrators torched tires and blocked the highway in Tel Aviv, while others gathered outside the home of senior ministers, including Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, Education Minister Yob Kisch, Strategy Minister Ron Dahmer and Minister of Innovation.
Israeli media also reported the rally near the city’s US embassy branch.
At a press conference in Tel Aviv, the families of prisoners of war on Gaza accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of failing them and demanded immediate deals for their release.
“To proceed with a plan to conquer Gaza while there is an agreement on the table for the Prime Minister’s signature is to stab the heart of the family and the entire country,” he said, father of two prisoners, one of whom is still being held in Gaza.
Einav Zangarkar, the mother of Israeli prisoners, accused Netanyahu of not returning the prisoners of personal gain.
“We could have ended the war a year ago and brought all the hostages and soldiers home. We could have saved them, but the Prime Minister chose again and again to sacrifice civilians for his rule,” she said.
Yehuda Cohen, the father of another prisoner of war, said, “Over 80% want to end the war and hostage trade. Everyone in Israel wants to put an end to this nightmare… Today, on the 690th day, we are calling for the Israeli government to go to the trade and release all hostages.
Hamas launched a surprising military operation in southern Israel on October 7, 2023. More than 1,100 people have been killed and more than 250 have been taken prisoner. The majority were released during the ceasefire. Israel only rescued eight living prisoners. Fifty prisoners remain in Gaza, with only around 20 people believed to be alive.
Israeli protesters argue that the government’s expanded military operations in Gaza will put the lives of the remaining prisoners of war. But their calls look deaf.
Israeli forces are preparing to expand the attack to densely populated areas in northern Gaza. Netanyahu and his allies say an attack is necessary to crush Hamas.
Calls for a ceasefire have also grown around the world after Israel struck a major hospital in South Gaza on Monday, killing 20 people, including five journalists. Most of the people killed in the attack on Nasser Hospital rushed to the scene of the first explosion and died after being hit by a second strike. This sparked shock and rage among the press freedom advocates and the Palestinians.
Israeli forces, which launched a war with Gaza after Hamas’ October 7th military operation, have so far killed nearly 63,000 Palestinians in Gaza.
However, the Netanyahu administration failed to achieve its goal of defeating Hamas and securing the release of the remaining prisoners through military means.
Netanyahu’s failure in military strategy in Gaza has deepened Israel’s domestic and international isolation, and the government faces accusations of committing genocide in Gaza.