Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip launched a surprise attack on a music festival, targeting Israeli civilians on October 7, killing 364 people and took over 240 hostages which lead to a full-fledged war between Israel and Gaza terrorists. Nine months into the Gaza war, Israeli protesters blocked highways nationwide on Sunday, urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign and advocating for a cease-fire to secure the release of hostages held by Hamas. Demonstrators gathered outside government ministers’ homes and near the Gaza border, releasing 1,500 balloons to represent those killed and abducted.
The protests occurred as efforts to negotiate a truce intensified. Hamas recently dropped its demand for an Israeli commitment to end the war but still seeks assurances for a permanent cease-fire. Netanyahu, however, vows to continue fighting until Hamas’ military and governing capabilities are eliminated. He stated that any deal would allow Israel to resume fighting if necessary.
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed over 38,000 Palestinians since the war started, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between combatants and civilians. Although over 100 hostages were released in a November cease-fire deal, about 120 remain captive.