The demonstrators intensify the pressure against Netanyahu, plans to extend the Gaza War

Thousands of demonstrators went to the streets of Israel to oppose the government plan to extend its military operation in Gaza.

Friday, the Israel security firm approved five principles to end the war which included “ taking control of security ” on the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army saying that it “would prepare to take control of” Gaza City.

Protesters, including members of the family of 50 hostages in Gaza, 20 of which are still considered alive, fear that the plan will make the life of the hostages in danger and urged the government to guarantee its release.

Israeli leaders have rejected criticism from his plan, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying “it will help release our hostages”.

A group representing the hostages of the hostages said on X: “The expansion of the fighting endangers the hostages and the soldiers – the inhabitants of Israel are not willing to risk them!”

A demonstrator Shakha, joining Jerusalem on Saturday, told the BBC: “We want war to end because our hostages die there, and we need them to be at home now.”

“Anyway, we have to do it. And if he has to stop war, we will stop war.”

Among the demonstrators of Jerusalem was a former soldier who told the BBC that he now refused to serve. Max Kresch said he was a fighting soldier at the start of the war and “since refused”.

“We have more than 350 soldiers who served during the war and refuse to continue serving in the Netanyahu political war which endangers the hostages (and) of the innocent Palestinians in Gaza,” he said.

The Times of Israel reported that members of the hostage and soldiers family during a demonstration in Tel Aviv near the seat of Israel Defense Forces (FDI) called on other soldiers to refuse to serve in the extended military operation to protect hostages.

The mother of one of the hostages called for a general strike in Israel, although the country’s main union does not support it, according to the Times of Israel.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also faced a strong opposition from the chief of staff of the army, the lieutenant-general Eyal Zamir who, according to the Israeli media, had warned the Prime Minister that a complete occupation of Gaza was “walking in a trap” and would endanger the living hostages.

The polls suggest that most of the Israeli public promotes an agreement with Hamas for the release of hostages and the end of the war.

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

“We are not going to occupy Gaza – we are going to free Gaza from Hamas,” Netanyahu told X on Friday. “This will help to release our hostages and guarantee that Gaza is not a threat to Israel in the future.”

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

The United Nations warned that a complete military control of the city of Gaza is at risk of “catastrophic consequences” for Palestinian civilians and hostages.

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

The United Kingdom, France, Canada and several other countries have condemned Israel’s decision and Germany has announced that it would stop its military exports to Israel in response.

The United Nations Security Council will meet on Sunday to discuss the Israel plan.

Israel began its military offensive in Gaza after the attacks led by Hamas against Israel on October 7, 2023, during which around 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

Since then, more than 61,300 people have been killed in Gaza following Israeli military operations, according to the Ministry of Health managed by Hamas.