Tens of thousands filled Tel Aviv’s streets Sunday, waving yellow flags and clutching hostage photos, demanding an end to Israel’s war in Gaza. The demonstrators, drumming and chanting, turned downtown avenues into rivers of protest, echoing anger and desperation after nearly 700 days of captivity.
“We have reached the last moment to save the hostages,” said Arabic teacher Ofir Penso, urging swift government action to end their ordeal. Protests have punctuated the 22-month war since the 2023 Hamas attacks, but Sunday’s march was among the largest and loudest so far.
The surge came after Israel launched a fresh offensive to seize Gaza City and nearby camps, sparking fierce criticism and warnings of famine. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s pledge to conquer Gaza’s most crowded districts has intensified global backlash and heightened domestic outrage.
Video footage showing pale, emaciated hostages has deepened fears that their health is slipping toward irreversible collapse inside Hamas tunnels. Many protesters wore homemade patches scrawled with “681” — the number of days since captives were seized — a symbol of defiant remembrance.
Of the 251 hostages taken in October 2023, Israel says 49 remain, including 27 confirmed dead, underscoring the war’s heavy human toll. At Hostage Square, relatives of captives spoke with searing urgency, demanding both freedom for their loved ones and an immediate end to conflict.
“The government has never pursued a genuine agreement,” said Einav Tzangauker, whose son remains captive, calling for “our rightful demand — our children.” Others voiced wider frustrations, citing political division, international isolation, and fears for young soldiers drawn into Gaza’s grinding campaign.
Some, however, argued the war must be pursued to completion, reflecting the deep fissures now splitting Israeli society. “Everybody is tired,” said Tel Aviv resident Patrick Menache. “The hostages are tired, the families are tired, the Palestinians are tired.”