On Wednesday evening, Israeli antiwar protesters gathered near the Erez crossing north of Gaza, organized by the Arab Israeli group Standing Together, which promotes peace and equality. Protesters displayed signs showing dead Palestinian children, highlighting the human cost of the conflict.
Rula Daood, the national co-director of Standing Together, emphasized the need for peace through ending the occupation and allowing humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Meanwhile, in Tel Aviv, families of hostages held a rally demanding a deal to bring their loved ones home. Some attempted to breach military headquarters but were stopped by police.
Prominent Israeli military and intelligence figures, including former Major General Matan Vilnai of the Israeli Defense Forces, urged the US to pressure Israel to end the war. They stated that Hamas, the Palestinian militant group that led the incursion into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, no longer poses a strategic threat.
Hundreds of artists also signed a petition titled "Stop the horror in Gaza," calling for an end to Palestinian suffering and the return of hostages. These voices have faced backlash, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has shown no signs of yielding to their demands.