Israel intends to seize control of the entire Gaza Strip, as stated by Netanyahu, with the objective of annihilating Hamas.
On Aug. 7, 2023, demonstrations took place in both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, with protesters rallying outside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office. The protests were captured by REUTERS and YONHAP.
The demonstrations were in response to the kidnapping of hostages during the Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel by Hamas. Approximately 50 hostages remain held by Hamas and other Palestinian armed groups, with 20 believed alive in Gaza and around 28 reported deceased.
The conditions of captivity are described as horrific, involving deprivation, ill-treatment, and abuse, which constitutes a war crime under international law. Released hostages have shared distressing accounts of their treatment. Efforts continue at the international level calling for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages.
The protests demanded the immediate release of the hostages and an end to the war. In addition, some demonstrators in Tel Aviv were holding a baby doll and a torn Israeli flag, while others were seen with fake noses and masks of Netanyahu.
Netanyahu has promised a new Gaza aid delivery plan, but supplies are still failing to reach Palestinians. The United Nations Security Council and other international bodies have repeatedly stressed the demand for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages, alongside efforts to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza exacerbated by blockades and limited aid access.
Trump has previously criticized Israel's prosecutors over Netanyahu's corruption trial, but he has not made any public statements regarding the recent Israeli protests or the ongoing conflict. No new breakthrough has been reported after Trump's talks with Netanyahu.
The protests in both cities did not result in any new breakthroughs regarding the ongoing conflict. However, they serve as a reminder of the urgent need for a resolution to the crisis and the release of the hostages. The families of hostages remain highly anxious, questioning government strategies and expressing concern for both living and deceased captives. Humanitarian organizations are urging safe, large-scale aid access to Gaza amid worsening conditions including famine and malnutrition.
[1] Human Rights Watch. (2024). Israel/Palestine: Investigate War Crimes in Gaza. [online] Available at: https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/03/23/israel/palestine-investigate-war-crimes-gaza
[2] Amnesty International. (2024). Israel/Palestine: Hundreds of Palestinian Prisoners at Risk of Torture and Other Ill-Treatment. [online] Available at: https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/04/israelpalestine-hundreds-of-palestinian-prisoners-at-risk-of-torture-and-other-ill-treatment/
[3] United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. (2023). Humanitarian Situation in Gaza Strip. [online] Available at: https://www.ochaopt.org/content/humanitarian-situation-gaza-strip
[4] International Committee of the Red Cross. (2023). Gaza Strip: ICRC Urges Parties to the Conflict to Protect Civilians and Allow Access to Humanitarian Aid. [online] Available at: https://www.icrc.org/en/document/gaza-strip-icrc-urges-parties-conflict-protect-civilians-and-allow-access-humanitarian-aid
[5] World Food Programme. (2023). Gaza Strip: WFP Scales Up Emergency Response. [online] Available at: https://www.wfp.org/news/gaza-strip-wfp-scales-emergency-response
- The international community, including organizations like Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, have called for investigations into war crimes committed during the Gaza conflict and the protection of Palestinian prisoners.
- The International Committee of the Red Cross has urged the parties to the conflict to protect civilians and allow access to humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip.
- The World Food Programme has scaled up its emergency response in the Gaza Strip due to worsening conditions, including famine and malnutrition.
- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has promised a new Gaza aid delivery plan, but the protests, as seen on Aug. 7, 2023, in both Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, highlight the public's concern over the government's strategies, particularly in regards to the ongoing conflict and the release of hostages.
- In addition to general news and political discussions, the demonstrations also involve arts and symbolism, with some protesters using baby dolls, torn Israeli flags, fake noses, and masks of Netanyahu to express their concerns and demand immediate action.
