Today, Israelis are staging a nationwide day of protests demanding the government agree to a ceasefire hostage deal with Hamas. Protesters are burning tires and blocking major roads in what protest leaders are calling a day of struggle. Families of the hostages want to know why the government hasn't responded to the latest truce proposal that Hamas accepted last week.
As protests erupt in the streets, the Israeli security cabinet just met behind closed doors discussing the expansion of the military operation in Gaza. The security cabinet meeting lasted for just a couple of hours this afternoon in Jerusalem. Key members were missing, including several far-right members that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu relies on to hold his government together. There were no substantive discussions or consideration of the ceasefire plan that Hamas accepted over a week ago. Instead, the discussion focused on regional security across the country.
The refusal of the government to take up the deal on the table, similar to one accepted a month ago, has fueled anger among protesters. Many Israelis are calling for an end to the war and the release of the hostages. They criticize the government for being influenced by extreme factions with agendas unrelated to Israel's security.
Protesters believe that President Donald Trump needs to pressure the Israeli government to pursue a deal. International outrage has grown over the recent double-tap strike on a Gaza hospital, which reportedly killed 20 Palestinians, including five journalists. The United Nations and other organizations have called for an investigation and accountability.
The strike targeted the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, where journalists from various news organizations were present. Israel carried out back-to-back strikes, claiming they believed a camera on the balcony was used by Hamas to monitor Israeli troops. The military stated that six Hamas terrorists were killed in the strike and acknowledged gaps in the decision-making process that need investigation.
