Lod (Israel), Aug 26: Protesters in Israel on Tuesday blocked highways, burned tires, and demanded a ceasefire to secure the release of hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza.
The demonstrations, organized as part of a “National Day of Struggle” by the Hostages and Missing Families Forum, came amid growing public pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government to prioritize negotiations over military escalation.
Protesters carried banners reading “Hostage Deal Now,” urging the government to return to the negotiation table.
The unrest followed a deadly Israeli airstrike on Gaza’s main hospital a day earlier, which killed 20 people, including five journalists and several medical staff. Among the dead was Mariam Dagga, a journalist with The Associated Press.
The attack sparked international outrage and was widely condemned. Netanyahu called it a “tragic mishap” and said the military would investigate, though footage suggests a second strike followed the first, killing many who rushed to help the injured.
Despite the growing calls for a ceasefire, Netanyahu continues to push for an expanded offensive in Gaza City, saying it is necessary to weaken Hamas and retrieve the remaining hostages.
Of the 251 people abducted by Hamas on October 7, 2023, most have been freed during past ceasefires, while only eight were rescued alive.
Around 50 hostages remain in Gaza, with about 20 believed to be alive.
Families of hostages argue a deal is possible, but far-right members of Netanyahu’s coalition threaten to resign if Israel agrees to a truce.
Meanwhile, Gaza continues to suffer under the ongoing conflict.
On Tuesday, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 16 Palestinians, including women and children.
Gaza’s Health Ministry also reported three additional deaths due to malnutrition, bringing the starvation-related toll to 186 since late June, including 117 children.
The overall death toll in Gaza stands at 62,819, according to the ministry, which says about half of the dead are women and children.
In the West Bank, Israeli forces carried out a rare daytime raid in downtown Ramallah, the Palestinian Authority’s administrative capital.
Armored vehicles moved through the city, injuring 58 people during clashes.
The UN reports over 1,000 settler attacks in 2025 alone, resulting in 11 Palestinian deaths and nearly 700 injuries, as violence continues to surge across the region amid the war in Gaza. (AP)
