A new wave of mass anti-government protests took place in Israel on Saturday evening. Thousands of people took to the streets, demanding that the country's authorities immediately release the hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
One of the largest demonstrations took place near the government complex in east Tel Aviv. The participants sharply criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his policy of escalating military action in the Palestinian enclave. Protesters believe that by doing so, the prime minister is condemning the hostages, who have been held in Gaza for nearly two years, to further suffering and is doing nothing to secure their release.
In addition to Tel Aviv, protests are taking place in other cities across the country. In Jerusalem, demonstrators gathered near Netanyahu's residence, The Times of Israel reported. They carried a large banner calling on US President Donald Trump to intervene. According to the latest reports, 48 Israeli hostages remain in the enclave, of whom approximately 20 are still alive.
The protests are taking place after a new Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip. On September 16, Netanyahu announced that the army had launched a planned large-scale ground offensive against Gaza City. The stated goal is to establish full control over the city and defeat the remaining armed forces of the radical Palestinian movement Hamas.