TEL AVIV, Aug 10 — On Saturday night, the streets of Tel Aviv were filled with the voices of more than 100,000 people, united in a single demand: stop the war and bring the hostages home.
For nearly two years, the Gaza conflict has weighed heavily on Israelis and Palestinians alike. This weekend, that burden spilled over into one of the largest protests yet, as citizens gathered to reject Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to seize Gaza City and expand the fighting.
“This isn’t just a military decision — it could be a death sentence for the people we love,” said Lishay Miran Lavi, whose husband Omri is still held hostage in Gaza. Her plea wasn’t just for Israel’s leaders but extended across the ocean to U.S. President Donald Trump, urging him to intervene and end the war immediately.
The move to escalate comes despite warnings from Israel’s own military that it could put the remaining 50 hostages in greater danger. Officials believe fewer than half are still alive. Many Israelis see negotiation — not bombs — as the path forward.
Public opinion polls now show a clear majority of citizens want the war to end, not just for the sake of the hostages but to stop the loss of life on all sides. “They are doing things against the interests of the country,” said Rami Dar, a 69-year-old retiree who travelled from outside Tel Aviv to join the rally.
Among the crowd, there were flags, placards of missing loved ones, and heartbreaking images of Gazan children killed in the fighting. Some called for Hamas to release the hostages. Others demanded Netanyahu’s government abandon its military ambitions.
“I’m not an expert, but after two years of fighting, there has been no real success,” said Yana, 45, who attended with her husband and two children. “How many more lives, on both sides, have to be lost before we stop?”
Since Hamas’ October 2023 attack — which killed about 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage — over 61,000 Palestinians have died, according to Gaza’s health ministry. More than 400 Israeli soldiers have also been killed.
While far-right members of Netanyahu’s coalition push for total control of Gaza, critics inside and outside Israel fear this could deepen the tragedy. Tal, a 55-year-old teacher, put it plainly: “We don’t have anything to do there. It’s not ours.”
For many on the streets of Tel Aviv last night, the message was clear — peace is the only victory worth fighting for.
