Israelis Demand Cease-fire After Hostages Found Dead in Gaza

Tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets on Sunday night, demanding an immediate cease-fire with Hamas following the discovery of six more hostages dead in Gaza.

The protests, marked by grief and anger, represented one of the largest public demonstrations since the onset of the conflict nearly a year ago, reflecting growing frustration with the government’s handling of the crisis.

Chanting “Now! Now!” the protesters called on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt military operations and secure the release of the remaining hostages. The demonstration highlighted the deep divisions within Israeli society and a mounting public outcry over the continued loss of life.

The protests were further amplified by a general strike called by Israel’s largest trade union, the Histadrut, set to commence on Monday. The strike is expected to disrupt major sectors of the economy, including banking, healthcare, and operations at Ben Gurion Airport, Israel’s main international gateway. This marks the first such action since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which triggered the current war.

Negotiations for a cease-fire have been ongoing for months, with many Israelis increasingly critical of Netanyahu for failing to reach an agreement. Opinion polls suggest that a majority of the population supports a cease-fire, but the Prime Minister remains committed to his strategy of achieving “total victory” over Hamas, even if it means delaying a deal for the hostages.

In Jerusalem, thousands gathered outside Netanyahu’s office, many in tears. In Tel Aviv, the relatives of the hostages led a symbolic march, carrying coffins to represent the lives lost. The discovery of the six hostages, including Israeli-American Hersh Goldberg-Polin, has intensified the calls for an immediate cease-fire. Three of the victims were reportedly scheduled for release under a cease-fire proposal discussed in July, which has only added to the public’s anger.

“Nothing is worse than knowing that they could have been saved,” said Dana Loutaly, one of the demonstrators. The hostages were found dead in a tunnel in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, just before Israeli forces arrived. Autopsies revealed that they were shot at close range, likely on Thursday or Friday, according to the Israeli Health Ministry.

Netanyahu, while expressing sorrow for the loss, placed the blame on Hamas, asserting that the militant group was responsible for the stalled negotiations. “Whoever murders hostages doesn’t want a deal,” he stated.

Hamas, for its part, has offered to release the hostages in exchange for an end to the conflict, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza, and the release of Palestinian prisoners. Senior Hamas official Izzat al-Rishq claimed that the hostages would still be alive if Israel had accepted a U.S.-backed cease-fire proposal in July.

The death of the hostages has sparked outrage and grief across Israel. Funerals have begun, with Sarusi’s body wrapped in an Israeli flag, his mother expressing deep anguish over the 331 days her son was held captive.

The incident has also exposed divisions within the Israeli government. Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and other senior officials have warned that time is running out to secure the hostages’ release. Tensions within the security cabinet reportedly boiled over last week, with Gallant accusing Netanyahu of prioritising control of a strategic corridor along the Gaza-Egypt border over the lives of the hostages.

An Israeli official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that three of the hostages had been slated for release under a July cease-fire proposal. The official also noted that the cabinet was holding emergency meetings to discuss the situation.

The family of Goldberg-Polin, a 23-year-old Israeli-American, has been at the forefront of efforts to secure the hostages’ release. Their campaign has garnered international attention, with meetings with U.S. President Joe Biden and Pope Francis, and an address at the Democratic National Convention in August. Following the news of their son’s death, Biden expressed his devastation and outrage, offering condolences to the family.

The conflict, which began with a Hamas-led attack that killed approximately 1,200 people, mostly civilians, has since escalated into a full-scale war. Israel’s retaliatory strikes have killed over 40,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. The ongoing violence has displaced the majority of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents, creating a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented proportions.

As the protests continue and the pressure mounts, the Israeli government faces a critical decision: whether to pursue a cease-fire and negotiate the release of the remaining hostages or continue its military campaign against Hamas. The outcome will likely have significant implications not only for the hostages but for the future of the Netanyahu administration and the broader region.