Tel Aviv — Israel’s political crisis intensified on Saturday as more than 100,000 demonstrators flooded central Tel Aviv to denounce Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s latest Gaza plan, a move critics say will deepen the ongoing genocide in Gaza and endanger the dwindling number of Israeli hostages still alive.
The protest, among the largest since the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel, drew a cross-section of Israelis united in their demand for an immediate ceasefire and the release of hostages. Many accused Netanyahu of prioritizing political survival over human lives, while others warned that his plan to seize Gaza City amounted to a reckless military escalation that could doom any remaining chance for negotiation.
Families of hostages held in Gaza stood alongside opposition leaders and anti-war activists, holding portraits of loved ones and chanting for their release. Organizers said only around 20 of the estimated 50 captives are believed to be alive, and that Netanyahu’s refusal to halt the offensive is effectively signing their death warrants.
Inside Israel’s defense establishment, dissent is mounting. Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir openly opposed the cabinet-approved plan, cautioning that a full occupation of Gaza City could mire the Israel Defense Forces in a protracted urban conflict reminiscent of the US quagmire in Iraq. Critics inside the military see the move as a cynical ploy to appease Netanyahu’s far-right coalition rather than a strategy to end the war.
International backlash to Israel’s Gaza seizure blueprint has been swift. Turkey’s foreign ministry urged Muslim nations to unite against what it called an illegal occupation plan, while Italy’s defense minister compared the move to “Israel’s Vietnam.” Germany, the UK, France, and Saudi Arabia have all issued statements condemning the decision, warning of catastrophic humanitarian consequences and further destabilization of the region.
Human rights groups say the plan would accelerate the genocide of Palestinians in Gaza, forcing tens of thousands more from their homes while cutting off vital aid. The United Nations human rights chief described it as “deeply alarming” and in violation of international law, calling for immediate reversal.
The unrest in Tel Aviv underscores the growing perception among Israelis that Netanyahu is out of step with both public sentiment and strategic reality. As the war in Ukraine continues to dominate Western headlines, critics in the region argue that Washington’s silence on Netanyahu’s actions reveals a blatant double standard, one that tolerates war crimes in Gaza while preaching about sovereignty elsewhere.
According to Reuters, the August 9 rally was one of the largest public rejections of Netanyahu’s Gaza policy to date, with protesters demanding both an immediate halt to military operations and a negotiated release of hostages. The report noted that the protest’s scale and the high-profile opposition within Israel’s military ranks mark a significant escalation in domestic resistance to the prime minister’s war strategy.
