Mass demonstrations in Israel push for Gaza ceasefire, urgent hostage deal

Massive protests swept Israel with ralliers demanding an end to the ongoing war in Gaza and urging for a hostage release deal.

Thousands gathered on Kaplan Street in Tel Aviv, with another demonstration taking place at Begin Gate, where police declared the protest unlawful and began evacuating the crowd, leading to minor clashes between officers and demonstrators, Caliber.Az reports via Israeli media.

Protests also spread to the southern kibbutzim near the Gaza Strip, including Be'eri and Nir Oz. In Be'eri, Or Gat, the brother of Carmel—whose body was recovered by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza—delivered a passionate message to Israel's negotiating team, declaring, "Do not return without a deal! Or there will be no hostages left alive to return."

Family members of hostages took to the stage at a press conference ahead of the rally, fiercely criticizing the Israeli government for its perceived reluctance to make the necessary concessions for a deal. The protests came shortly after an open letter from about 1,000 parents of soldiers engaged in the Gaza conflict accused Prime Minister Netanyahu of using their children as "cannon fodder."

International pressure continues to mount, with former President Donald Trump threatening "hell to pay" if a hostage deal is not finalized before he takes office on January 20. His strong remarks have been seen as a catalyst for pushing negotiations forward.

Speaking in English to the crowd, outgoing U.S. Ambassador to Israel Jack Lew emphasized the United States' firm stance on the issue, demanding the release of seven American hostages, four of whom are confirmed dead. "The United States demands the release of seven of our hostages, four of whom we know to be dead—now!" Lew declared, receiving applause as he concluded his statement in Hebrew. He added, "There could be a ceasefire tomorrow, and an end to the suffering of Gazans, if Hamas releases the hostages."

Other international diplomats also addressed the crowd, with British Ambassador Simon Walters drawing from his own experiences growing up in war-torn Northern Ireland to stress the need for sacrifices to achieve peace.

Meanwhile, anti-government protests erupted in Tel Aviv, with demonstrators voicing opposition to proposed changes to the judiciary. Legal expert Barak Medina warned that these changes would "destroy the judiciary as an independent branch of government."

The protests reflect growing public discontent both with the government's handling of the war in Gaza and its domestic policies. As international and local calls for a ceasefire and hostage release intensify, Israel remains in the spotlight as it navigates a critical juncture in both its military operations and political future.

The reforms unveiled by Justice Minister Yariv Levin and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar on January 9 appeared to represent a softened version of an overhaul previously pushed by the government which sparked massive nationwide protests in 2023. Critics said the new proposal, which gives opposition politicians a greater voice on choosing judges, still preserves moves that will increase political control over the judicial system while curbing its ability to act as a check on the government or Knesset.

By Khagan Isayev