“We refuse to continue serving in this political war in Netanyahu”: thousands of people protest in Israel for the Occupation Plan of the City of Gaza

Crowds of protesters carry flags and banners expressing their opinion in Tel Aviv. — Photo foot, Thousands of protesters gathered to demand the Israeli government to end the war and not occupy Gaza.

- Author, Writing
- Author's title, BBC News World
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Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday night to protest against the controversial plan of Benjamin Netanyahu to intensify the war in Gaza.

A day before, Israel's security cabinet approved a plan to occupy the city of Gaza, racing the way to militarily capture the entire strip progressively.

The plan, presented by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is perceived as a risky step that threatens the life of Israeli hostages and could significantly increase the number of civil victims in the Palestinian enclave.

Max Kresch, a former government, marched with a sign that said: “I refused.”

“We are more than 350 soldiers that we serve in the conflict and refuse to continue serving in the political war in Netanyahu,” he told the BBC.

A group that represents the families of the hostages assured in X: “Expanding the fighting endangers the hostages and the soldiers. The people of Israel are not willing to risk them!”

Shakha, a protester who attended the protest in Jerusalem on Saturday, told the BBC: “We want the war to end because our hostages are dying and we need everyone to return home now.”

“We will do what is necessary. And if it is necessary to stop war, we will stop it.”

The protests occurred in various parts of Israel, in cities such as Haifa and Tel Aviv.

The demonstration in Tel Aviv attracted more than 100,000 protesters, according to the organizers.

Protesters with a poster that says: "Bring them home now"in reference to Israeli hostages in the possession of Hamas. — Photo foot, In Tel Aviv, the demonstration was carried out in the square in front of the Art Museum, known as the “Plaza de los Haranes”.

Attendees demanded the immediate cessation of the military campaign and the release of hostages.

Some relatives of the hostages joined the protest and expressed their fears that the plan could be a sentence for hostages.

Israel's decision to expand his war in Gaza – an important escalation of the conflict – has caused the UN conviction and many countries, including United Kingdom, France, Australia, Turkey, Germany, Finland and Canada.

The UN has warned that a total military coup could have “catastrophic consequences” for Palestinian civilians and Israeli hostages retained in Gaza.

The plan, approved by the Israeli security cabinet, lists five “principles” to end the war: disarm Hamas, return all hostages, demilitarize the Gaza Strip, take control of security of the territory and establish “an alternative civil administration that is neither Hamas nor the Palestinian authority”.

Photo foot, After the concentration, the protesters marched around the base of Kirya in Tel Aviv, demanding an agreement for the hostages.

Public opinion surveys show that an overwhelming majority of Israelis supports the immediate end of the war to ensure the release of the remaining 50s held by militants in Gaza.

Israeli authorities believe that about 20 hostages are still alive.

The Benjamin Netanyahu government has faced strong criticism both inside and outside the country.

Netanyahu had told Fox News earlier this week that Israel planned to occupy the entire Gaza Strip and eventually “deliver it to the Arab forces.”

“We are not going to occupy Gaza; we are going to free her from Hamas,” Netanyahu said in X on Friday. “This will help free our hostages and ensure that Gaza does not represent a threat to Israel in the future.”

“Catastrophic consequences”

United Nations has warned that a complete military shot of the city of Gaza could have “catastrophic consequences” for Palestinian civilians and hostages.

Up to a million Palestinians live in the city of Gaza, in the north of the Gaza Strip, which was the most populated city in the enclave before the war.

The United Nations Security Council will meet this Sunday to discuss Israel's plan.

Israel began its military offensive in Gaza after the attacks led by Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023, in which some 1,200 people died and another 251 were taken as hostages.

Since then, more than 61,300 people have died in Gaza as a result of Israeli military operations, according to the Ministry of Health led by Hamas.