"The March of Despair": Tens of Thousands of Israelis Protest for an End to the Gaza War and Release of Hostages, as the "Global Resilience Flotilla" Delays its Sailing

In a powerful display of frustration and despair, tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets of Jerusalem and Tel Aviv on Saturday evening. Marching under the banner of "The Government of the Shadow of Death," protesters delivered a direct appeal to President Donald Trump, urging him to intervene and bring an end to the Gaza war, while securing the release of all hostages.

According to The Times of Israel, one major demonstration in Jerusalem began near the city's entrance and moved toward Prime Minister Netanyahu's residence. Chanting slogans like "Why are they still in Gaza?" and holding signs that read "The Government of the Shadow of Death," the protesters expressed growing frustration with the government's approach. Simultaneously, in Tel Aviv, crowds gathered outside military headquarters, waving Israeli flags and holding up large posters of the hostages, demanding their safe return.

Some protesters carried signs specifically addressed to Trump, with messages such as "Trump's legacy is collapsing as the Gaza war continues" and "President Trump, save the hostages now!" Boaz, a 40-year-old protester, articulated the sentiment, stating, "We believe Trump is the only man in the world who has authority over Bibi [Netanyahu] and can force him to do this." These demonstrations reflect the deep-seated fear among hostage families that a full-scale assault on Gaza City could endanger their loved ones.

Weekly protests in Tel Aviv have been escalating, with participants demanding a ceasefire agreement with Hamas to secure the release of hostages. Haaretz reported that a massive march in Jerusalem was led by the mothers of hostages. Anat Angrest, the mother of captive soldier Matan Angrest, voiced her anguish, stating that she would not allow Netanyahu to rest, having been informed by Israeli military officials that her son was in grave danger. In a post on X, Angrest had directly warned Netanyahu, "Matan is in grave danger. Tonight, I will come to your door accompanied by tens of thousands of Israeli citizens."

In Haifa, thousands of people wearing yellow shirts rallied, holding banners with the number "700," marking the number of days since October 7, 2023. While most of the 251 hostages have been released through previous negotiations, 48 are still believed to be held in Gaza, with Israeli officials estimating that only about 20 of them are still alive.

Other Developments: "Global Resilience Flotilla" Postponed and New Tower Destroyed in Gaza

In a separate development, the "Global Resilience Flotilla," a convoy carrying humanitarian aid from Tunis to Gaza, announced a delay in its departure. Citing "technical and logistical reasons," the organizers postponed the sailing from Sunday to Wednesday. The flotilla, which includes activists and public figures like Swedish environmental activist Greta Thunberg and actors Liam Cunningham and Edward Fernandez, aims to break the naval blockade and establish a humanitarian corridor.

Meanwhile, military operations in Gaza continued. The Israeli army announced the destruction of another residential tower in Gaza City. According to a statement by military spokesperson Avichay Adraee, the building was allegedly used by Hamas for intelligence purposes and had explosives planted inside. Hamas and the Government Media Office in Gaza strongly condemned the targeting of residential buildings, calling them "war crimes" and denying any military use of the structures. They asserted that the buildings are strictly for civilian use and are free of any military infrastructure.

The humanitarian crisis deepened, with the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza reporting 68 new fatalities and 362 injuries in the past 24 hours. This brings the total number of casualties since October 7, 2023, to 64,368 killed and 162,367 injured. The ministry noted that 23 of the deceased were individuals waiting for aid, and six new deaths were linked to famine and malnutrition.

Amidst these events, the Israeli military called on residents of Gaza City to evacuate to a designated "humanitarian zone" in the south, ahead of a planned expansion of its offensive. However, testimonies from local residents, such as Nafi and Abdul Nasser Mushtaha, reveal a deep mistrust of these directives. They claim that the so-called "safe zones" are not secure and that civilians face risks even when attempting to get aid.

Furthermore, unnamed Israeli security sources reportedly warned politicians and hostage families that the military "cannot guarantee that hostages will not be harmed" during the ground operation, adding to the families' anguish and fear.