Global Protests Escalate demands for Gaza Ceasefire Amidst Shifting Israeli Political Landscape
Pro-Palestinian demonstrations surged worldwide over the weekend, with participants calling for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Gaza. This global outcry follows a recent United Nations resolution, adopted earlier this month, which mandated an unconditional and permanent ceasefire. Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya underscored the international community’s obligation to halt the ongoing “slaughter” in gaza, reflecting a growing consensus on the need for de-escalation.
Concurrently, protests within Israel have resumed following a two-week hiatus during the israel-Iran conflict. These domestic demonstrations are primarily focused on securing the release of hostages still held in Gaza. Einav Zangauker, whose child is among the hostages, articulated the sentiment at a recent rally, stating, “There’s a deal on the table and what prevents it is Netanyahu’s refusal to end the war.”
Adding to the pressure on Israeli leadership, former Prime Minister Ehud Barak penned an essay earlier this month urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to endorse a trump-brokered ceasefire. barak posited that netanyahu faces a critical decision in the coming days: to pursue a “politically motivated ‘war of deception’ in Gaza” or to accept a deal that would secure the release of all hostages and end the war. He framed this choice as one between aligning with Donald Trump or appeasing his far-right ministers,Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
in a Sunday security meeting, Prime Minister Netanyahu indicated that Israel’s “victory” in iran had “opened up” numerous opportunities. For the first time, he appeared to place a higher priority on hostage exchange than on the complete defeat of Hamas, suggesting a potential openness to a ceasefire agreement. “Firstly, to rescue the hostages,” Netanyahu stated. “Of course, we will also need to solve the Gaza issue, defeat Hamas, but I believe we will achieve both tasks.”
