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Tel Aviv, June 29, 2025 — Thousands of Israelis took to the streets of Tel Aviv on Saturday evening to demand an end to the ongoing war in Gaza and urge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prioritize the release of hostages still held by Hamas.
The protest, held in Kaplan Square and other central parts of the city, marked yet another major demonstration since the war began in October last year.
Chanting slogans like “Bring Them Home” and holding up photos of abducted individuals, protesters expressed frustration over the government’s handling of the conflict and hostage negotiations.
Many carried Israeli flags and signs calling for an immediate ceasefire, echoing the sentiments of families who say time is running out for their loved ones still held in Gaza.
“We are desperate for action,” said Ruth Cohen, whose cousin was kidnapped during the October 7 attack. “The government must end this war and bring our people back. Enough is enough.”
The protest comes amid renewed international attention on the conflict, following remarks by U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested on Friday that a ceasefire could be achieved “as early as next week.”
Trump’s comments, made during a campaign event in Florida, have been met with cautious skepticism in Israel. According to DPA, Israeli officials have warned against premature optimism, citing ongoing hostilities and complex negotiations with mediators in Egypt and Qatar.
Adding to the high-stakes atmosphere, the Israeli military announced Saturday the killing of Kham al-Issa, a senior Hamas military commander, in an airstrike inside the Gaza Strip.
Al-Issa, widely regarded as a founding figure in Hamas’s military wing, was instrumental in planning the devastating October 7 cross-border attack on Israel, which ignited the current war.
Military officials described al-Issa as the chief of staff for Hamas’s military operations in Gaza, responsible for both frontline tactics and administrative coordination.
His death is considered a significant blow to Hamas’s command structure, with the Israeli army noting that only a few senior figures remain within the besieged enclave.
The October 7 assault resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people in Israel, with 251 others taken hostage, according to Israeli authorities.
Many of those hostages remain in captivity. In retaliation, Israel launched an extensive military campaign across Gaza, with the Hamas-run health ministry now reporting over 56,400 Palestinian deaths, including thousands of civilians.
Despite the death of al-Issa, the conflict shows few signs of winding down. Israeli airstrikes continue in southern and central Gaza, while Hamas persists with sporadic rocket fire and guerrilla-style resistance in urban areas.
The dual developments — public discontent in Tel Aviv and a high-profile military assassination — underscore the deeply polarizing and exhausting nature of the conflict for both Israelis and Palestinians.
As hopes for a ceasefire flicker amid continued violence, the fate of the hostages remains central to public discourse, keeping pressure on Israeli leadership to find a way out of the protracted war.