THOUSANDS of protesters gathered in Tel Aviv calling on Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to resign.
Footage on social media showed people, including the friends and families of Hamas hostages, gathered in central Tel Aviv demanding greater efforts from their government and the international community to bring their loved ones home.
It comes after thousands gathered across the UK yesterday, including in Glasgow (below), Edinburgh, Dundee, Aberdeen and Inverness, to show solidarity with Palestine.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak meanwhile has warned that the Israel-Hamas war risks unleashing a “contagion of conflict” across the Middle East.
He said his recent two-day visit to the region demonstrated “that the UK stands in solidarity with them against terrorism” and that “there can be no justification” for the atrocities committed by Hamas.
On Saturday, thousands of demonstrators in Tel Aviv demanded Netanyahu's resignation on the 15th day of the war, which started on 7 October. Nearly 4,500 Palestinians have been killed and 15,400 wounded since 7 October, while the Israeli death count stands at 1,400 people pic.twitter.com/nJksM0TLNV
— Middle East Eye (@MiddleEastEye) October 22, 2023
It was reported on Sunday morning that Israeli warplanes struck targets across Gaza overnight on Saturday and into Sunday, as well as two airports in Syria and a mosque in the occupied West Bank.
The military has acknowledged there are still hundreds of thousands of Palestinian civilians in northern Gaza despite a sweeping evacuation order, which would complicate any ground attack.
On Saturday, 20 trucks of aid were allowed to enter Gaza from Egypt through the Rafah crossing, the first time anything has gone into the territory since Israel imposed a complete siege two weeks ago.
Aid workers said it is far too little to address the spiralling humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where half the territory’s 2.3 million people have fled their homes.
Hospitals packed with patients and displaced people are running low on medical supplies and fuel for generators, forcing doctors to perform surgeries with sewing needles, using kitchen vinegar as disinfectant, and without anaesthesia.
In a post on Twitter/X yesterday, Medical Aid For Palestinians shared images and stated that “the lives of 130 premature babies are in imminent danger if fuel does not reach hospitals soon”.
It said: “There are six neonatal intensive care units at hospitals in Gaza, including Shifa and Nasser hospitals.
“Since October 9, Israeli authorities have imposed a “total closure” on Gaza, halting the entry of fuel and electricity.”
Humza Yousaf responded to the post and said: “How can this be justified? What crime have these babies committed?
“This is why collective punishment must be called out and condemned. Let aid in, including fuel. Otherwise, these images should haunt us for the rest of our lives.
“A ceasefire is needed and needed now.”
Israel’s military has said it is striking Hamas members and installations, but does not target civilians.
Palestinian militants have continued daily rocket attacks, with Hamas saying it targeted Tel Aviv early on Sunday.
Netanyahu convened his Cabinet late on Saturday to discuss the expected ground invasion, Israeli media reported.
Military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said Israel plans to step up air strikes, starting from Saturday, as preparation for the “next stages of the war”.
More than 1400 people in Israel have so far died in the war – mostly civilians killed during the initial Hamas attack.
At least 210 people were captured and dragged back to Gaza, including men, women, children and older adults. Two Americans were released on Friday in what Hamas said was a humanitarian gesture.
More than 4300 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry. That includes the disputed toll from a hospital explosion.
