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TEL AVIV, August 10, 2025 — Tens of thousands of Israelis rallied across the country on Saturday night, demanding a comprehensive hostage deal and ceasefire before the government proceeds with its planned military operation to seize Gaza City. The protests, among the largest in recent months, were led by families of hostages and fallen soldiers, who warned that the operation would endanger captives, escalate the conflict, and deepen the humanitarian crisis.
In Tel Aviv, demonstrators shut down the Ayalon Highway, lighting bonfires and chanting slogans against the government’s decision. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, which represents the majority of hostage families, issued a statement condemning the cabinet’s approval of the Gaza City takeover, calling it a “death sentence” for those still held in captivity.
Rallies were held in major cities including Jerusalem, Kiryat Gat, and Shaar HaNegev Junction, with smaller gatherings nationwide. At Hostages Square in Tel Aviv, former captive Sharon Aloni-Cunio addressed a crowd of over 10,000, marking the Jewish holiday of Tu B’Av with a heartfelt plea for the release of her husband, David Cunio, who remains in Hamas captivity.
“They say out loud that they’re willing to sacrifice the hostages,” Aloni-Cunio said, criticizing the government’s escalation. She recounted her daughter Yuli’s anguish, asking if her father no longer loved her because he hadn’t returned.
Nearby, at a protest outside the IDF headquarters, speakers urged soldiers to refuse participation in the Gaza operation. Bat-El, the mother of a reserve combat officer, described the toll on troops and called the plan “a path to a forever war” that would cost lives and damage Israel’s global standing.
While most speakers focused on the hostage crisis, some protesters highlighted the humanitarian impact on Gaza, displaying images of Palestinian children killed in the conflict.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum is now leading a campaign for a nationwide general strike, urging businesses, unions, and citizens to halt activity under the slogan: “Silence kills — the country grinds to a halt to save the hostages and the soldiers.” A press conference is scheduled in Tel Aviv today to announce further steps.
— Sources: Times of Israel, France 24, NNN-Xinhua, MENAFN
