TEL AVIV: Thousands of people have taken to the streets in various cities across Israel calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. Protesters argue that the military’s plans to seize the city of Gaza put the lives of remaining hostages at risk. Former Defense Minister Benny Gantz has urged opposition figures to join a temporary unity government to help facilitate the release of hostages. In contrast, the current coalition led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu relies on support from far-right parties that oppose any agreement with Hamas to end the war. On Thursday, August 21, Netanyahu informed Israeli military forces that his cabinet had approved plans for a large-scale attack on northern Gaza, a move that has faced widespread domestic and international opposition. Netanyahu emphasized that he has ordered negotiations for the release of all hostages, but these talks must “meet Israel’s demands.” This comes after Hamas agreed on Monday to a 60-day ceasefire proposal from Qatar and Egypt, which, according to Qatari officials, includes the release of half of the remaining hostages in Gaza. However, Netanyahu has officially rejected this agreement in his first response. Meanwhile, the Hamas Health Ministry in Gaza reported that over 60 people died in the past 24 hours due to Israeli attacks and malnutrition. Additionally, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), supported by the United Nations, has confirmed the occurrence of famine conditions in Gaza for the first time. The IPC has classified the food situation in Gaza at Phase 5— the worst level of acute food insecurity— and warned that “catastrophic” conditions may extend to Deir al-Balah and Khan Yunis by the end of September.
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