Amidst the ongoing conflict, the Israeli left appears to be gradually becoming more active.
In recent weeks, a significant shift has been observed within the Israeli political landscape, with the Israeli left experiencing a resurgence in consciousness and activism regarding the dire situation in Gaza. This renewed focus is primarily due to the extreme and escalating humanitarian crisis caused by Israel's military actions and plans for Gaza, as well as the internal political dynamics within Israel that have pushed far-right policies.
The massive human toll and devastation in Gaza, where over 58,000 deaths have been reported and plans exist to render 75% of Gaza uninhabitable as part of a security zone under Israeli control, have triggered moral outrage and activism. This extreme scale of devastation and the forced displacement plans have alarmed many Israelis on the left.
Moreover, the proposal by the U.S. and Israeli right to "take over" Gaza and transform it into a controlled security zone, including the controversial "Riviera of the Middle East" project, has further alarmed progressive elements within Israel.
Visible grassroots activism and solidarity actions within Israel, such as petitions by hundreds of Israeli artists and architects demanding an end to Gaza’s destruction, indicate increased public dissent and organizing around the Gaza crisis.
Political and military debates within Israel, which include questioning of the Netanyahu government and right-wing policies by both left and some right-wing figures, are encouraging a more robust public discourse on Gaza.
Broader regional and global contexts, including the persistent power imbalance favoring Israel, the absence of effective external curbing of Israeli actions, and growing Palestinian grassroots resistance, have led some Israeli left activists to feel a heightened urgency to oppose current policies and advocate for Palestinian rights.
Thousands of protesters have marched against the starvation of Gaza, with support from initiatives like "Soldiers for Hostages" and the "High-Tech Industry Protest Movement". Demonstrations like the one in the Palestinian city of Sakhnin, which drew over 10,000 people in late July, protesting against the starvation and destruction of Gaza, are becoming more frequent.
Engagement with actions and solidarity with the local left remains indispensable in the pursuit of unbreakable justice and equality for all people in Israel and Palestine. As the call from progressive organizations to "renounce normality" in the face of the apocalypse in Gaza grows louder, it is clear that this resurgence reflects a shift from earlier political complacency or fragmentation to more cohesive activism responding to the acute and publicized nature of the crisis.
References:
[1] B'tselem and Physicians for Human Rights Israel, 2025. [2] Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions, 2025. [3] Peace Now, 2025.
- The rising concern and activism among Israel's political left, as seen in grassroots movements and demonstrations like the one in Sakhnin, are intensifying in response to the dire situation in Gaza, including the reported 58,000 deaths and plans to render 75% of Gaza uninhabitable, which have become major topics of debate in both domestic politics and general news.
- The ongoing war-and-conflicts and politics surrounding Gaza have led progressive elements within Israel to engage in solidarity actions, such as petitions, protests, and partnerships with organizations like "Soldiers for Hostages" and the "High-Tech Industry Protest Movement," as they strive to advocate for Palestinians and call for an end to the crisis, amidst a broader regional context riddled with power imbalances and growing Palestinian resistance.
