Over 100,000 Protest in Tel Aviv Against Gaza War Expansion

Photo:AP

On Saturday night, August 10, 2025, the streets of Tel Aviv were filled with a massive wave of public anger. More than 100,000 people gathered to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to increase military action in Gaza, which has already been under attack for nearly two years.

The main demand from the protesters was clear — stop the war now and bring the hostages home. Families of hostages, peace activists, retired army officers, and everyday citizens stood side by side, chanting for change. Many people carried Israeli flags, pictures of hostages, and signs urging the United States, particularly President Donald Trump, to step in and push for an immediate ceasefire.

Government’s Controversial Decision

Just a day earlier, Netanyahu’s security cabinet — a small team of top ministers — decided to launch an operation to take control of Gaza City. This step would expand the war in the already devastated Palestinian territory. Military officials warned that such an escalation could put the lives of the remaining hostages in even greater danger.

Currently, Israeli intelligence believes around 50 hostages are still in Gaza, but only about 20 are thought to be alive. Most of the hostages who have been released over the last two years were freed through negotiation, not military action. Efforts to reach a ceasefire that could have resulted in more releases collapsed in July.

Voices From the Crowd

One of the most emotional speeches came from Lishay Miran Lavi, whose husband, Omri Miran, is among the hostages. Fighting back tears, she said:

• “This isn’t just a military decision — it could be a death sentence for the people we love most.”
• She begged President Trump to personally intervene and stop the war.
• Another protester, Rami Dar, a 69-year-old retiree who traveled from outside Tel Aviv, accused the government of acting recklessly:
• “They are doing things against the interests of the country.”

A woman named Yana, who came with her husband and two children, questioned the entire approach:

“After two years of fighting, I don’t see any success. Will more deaths — both Israeli and Palestinian — really change anything?”

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Public Opinion

Recent surveys show that most Israelis want the war to end immediately so the remaining hostages can be brought home. The protest on Saturday was one of the largest seen in Tel Aviv since the war began in October 2023.

International Reaction

World leaders and global organizations have expressed concern. The U.N. Secretary-General said he was “gravely alarmed” by Israel’s decision to take control of Gaza City. Several European allies of Israel have also criticized the move.

War Toll So Far

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a major attack on Israel, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 hostages into Gaza. Since then, more than 400 Israeli soldiers have died in Gaza.

On the Palestinian side, the Gaza Health Ministry reports that over 61,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes, including at least 39 people in the past 24 hours. A large number of the dead are women and children.

Far-Right Pressure

Some of Netanyahu’s far-right allies, including Minister Bezalel Smotrich, are pushing for Israel to completely take over Gaza and annex parts of it. Smotrich criticized Netanyahu for not moving fast enough. The military, however, fears that a full takeover would lead to even greater risks for hostages and possibly draw Israel deeper into a prolonged, bloody conflict.

Protest Symbolism

While most protesters focused on freeing hostages and stopping the war, a smaller group also held images of Gaza children killed in the fighting, showing that the humanitarian toll on both sides was on their minds.

A Nation at a Crossroads

Israel now faces a difficult decision: continue the war in hopes of total control over Gaza or halt military action to secure the release of the remaining hostages and move toward a ceasefire. With public opinion leaning strongly toward ending the war, pressure is mounting on Netanyahu — both from the streets and from abroad.

The coming days could decide not only the fate of Gaza City but also the future of the hostages, the stability of Netanyahu’s government, and Israel’s relations with its allies.