Antigovernment protest groups in Israel have vowed to escalate their efforts until the current administration steps down. Demonstrators are increasingly critical about their dissatisfaction with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, citing a series of controversial policies and perceived mishandling of the ongoing war in Gaza. The protests have drawn widespread participation, with tens of thousands of Israelis gathering in Tel Aviv and other major cities to demand a ceasefire and a change in leadership.
The Israeli army has responded to reports claiming that the war cabinet was unaware of a “tactical pause” announced on Sunday morning. This pause, intended for the delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza, was not a cessation of hostilities in the southern Gaza Strip. The announcement coincided with the Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, a time when Palestinians in Gaza and occupied East Jerusalem marked the occasion amidst the ongoing Israeli attacks and destruction.
The Israeli army’s operations have also included the burning and demolition of dozens of homes in Rafah, which experts describe as a clear indication of ethnic cleansing. Meanwhile, an attack by Qassam Brigades fighters has resulted in the deaths of eight Israeli soldiers.
Amid the ongoing Israeli attacks, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to deteriorate. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has warned that 50,000 children in Gaza are malnourished and require immediate treatment.
UN agencies have suspended aid deliveries from a US-built pier following talks with Egypt and pressure from the United States. Aid trucks are now transiting between the Kerem Shalom crossing and Gaza during the daily pause from 8 am to 7 pm, coordinated with the UN and international aid agencies.
Since the start of its war on Gaza on 7 October, Israel has killed at least 37,337 Palestinians, mostly women, children and elderly, and wounded 85,299 others.