Protests erupt in Israel demanding end to genocide in Gaza

JERUSALEM (AA) – Protesters gathered in West Jerusalem on Friday to demand an end to the Israeli military’s genocide in the Gaza Strip.

Videos shared online showed demonstrators holding banners with messages such as “Stop the War,” “Stop the Genocide,” and “Stop the Massacre.”

The protesters, known for their leftist stance against the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, chanted slogans, urging an immediate cease-fire.

Israeli police present at the rally reportedly confiscated the banners by force.

The protesters said: “Just as the Israeli government stopped its fire in Lebanon, it can also stop the fire in Gaza.”

In a separate demonstration, hundreds of Israeli women, including relatives of hostages held in Gaza, staged a silent protest outside the Likud Party headquarters in Tel Aviv.

According to Channel 12, the women, dressed in white, called for a prisoner exchange deal with Hamas.

“Mothers and relatives of the hostages leading the protest are urging Likud members to back a deal to release all captives,” the channel reported.

One participant expressed the group’s determination, saying: “Today, we stand as sisters, mothers, and leaders with a clear message: Israel must do everything possible to bring our loved ones home at any cost. The price of leaving them in captivity will be far greater for us as a nation.”

According to these families, 101 Israelis are currently held in Gaza, with half believed to have died.

They argue that a prisoner swap with Palestinians held in Israeli prisons represents the only chance to bring their loved ones home.

Israel launched a genocidal war on the Gaza Strip since October last year, killing over 44,360 people, most of them women and children, and injuring more than 105,000. Several analysts believe the actual death toll is 4-5 times the official statistics, including those gone missing or unaccounted for, and those dying of starvation or infectious diseases.

Last week, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its deadly war on Gaza.