Tens of thousands of Israelis in Tel Aviv on Saturday, Aug. 9 protested Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to take over Gaza, which was recently approved by Israel’s security cabinet. These demonstrations come as the idea of expanded Israeli military action in Gaza faces international condemnation.
Haaretz reported that protesters were in Hostage Square before moving to the Israel Defense Forces Headquarters. Police deemed this as an unlawful gathering and called in reinforcements, Haaretz wrote. Groups of protesters blocked a highway in Tel Aviv.
Organizers said nearly 60,000 people were at the main rally, though others also attended other protests around Israel.
Among those criticizing Netanyahu and his government were families of those taken hostage by Hamas on Oct. 7,2023. Einav Zangauker, whose son Matan is one of the missing, urged for a general strike to “help us save the hostages, the soldiers and the state of Israel,” the Associated Press wrote.
“Shut the country down,” Zangauker said.
Other countries ‘reject’ Israel’s approval of Gaza takeover
Nine countries, such as Britain, France, Canada and Germany, sent out a joint statement stating they “strongly reject” Israel’s government OK-ing an escalation of the military offensive in Gaza. They said it would make a “catastrophic humanitarian situation,” endanger hostages and displace even more Palestinians. Efforts to annex or settle in Gaza would violate international law, they added.
Another statement from over 20 countries including Egypt, Qatar, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates said the planned operation is a “dangerous and unacceptable escalation.”
U.S. Democratic Senators on the chamber’s Foreign Relations Committee, Jeanne Shaheen, Jack Reed, Mark Warner, Chris Coons and Brian Schatz, all signed onto a statement that expressed concern over the operations.
“Gaza continues to experience an extreme humanitarian crisis, and this decision only makes matters worse,” the senators said. “We are nearly two years into this conflict, and it is clear military escalation will not deliver an end to the violence, will delay the return and may even lead to deaths of Israeli and American hostages held by Hamas, and will severely damage any prospect of a future political settlement between Israelis and Palestinians.”
The lawmakers urged both Israel and Hamas to return to the negotiating table to secure a ceasefire.
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Palestinians efforting aid killed by Israeli forces
Nasser and Awda hospitals report Israeli forces killed more than 11 people who were getting aid in Gaza. The Israeli military denied this, the AP said, though two witnesses told the news outlet they saw the country’s troops fire towards crowds as they went toward a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation distribution site.
The United States and Israel-backed foundation has gotten backlash over the number of deaths reported at its aid sites. Almost 1,400 have been killed while trying to get food, the United Nations said.
Meanwhile, in the north, Israeli troops killed more than nine and injured over 200 people attempting to get aid. The AP cited Fares Awad, head of the Health Ministry’s ambulance and the area’s emergency service.
More than 61,300 Palestinians have died in Gaza since the start of the Israel-Hamas war. Not included in this count are the 114 people who have died from malnutrition-related causes, per the Gaza Health Ministry.
