Aug. 23 (UPI) — Dozens of people were killed in Gaza, officials said Saturday, as protestors in Israel demand an end to the war in the Palestinian enclave and the release of the remaining Hamas-held hostages.
Separate events took place in Tel Aviv opposing the war. A demonstration, against an increased Israeli offensive, was organized by families of hostages demanding those alive and dead be returned by Hamas to Israel. Another one uniting Jews and Arabs was called “Stop the Starvation, Stop the War – Yes to Life and Peace.”
The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said Saturday that 61 Palestinians had been killed over the last 24 hours, with more than 300 people wounded.
At least four children were among the dead, Al Jazeera reported.
The news comes as those opposing Israel’s war in Gaza, including an expanded offensive, protested in Tel Aviv on Saturday night, calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to bring an end to the conflict that has lasted 686.
Families of the remaining hostages held by Hamas organized the protest at Hostage Square, calling for the release of their loved ones.
“Expanding the fighting only puts them and all the hostages at even greater risk,” Liran Berman, whose brothers Gali and Ziv Berman were abducted during the attack, told The Times of Israel at the protest. “There is a deal on the table. But deals do not last forever; their windows close fast and hard, as we have seen too many times before. This may be the last chance to save lives and to bring the fallen back.”
Roni Adar, whose brother Tamir Adar was killed fighting Hamas-led terrorists before they captured his remains, said she has been waiting for close to 690 days to bury him.
“In what world should a younger sister spend almost two years begging for the chance to stand at the grave of her older brother?” Roni Adar said to The Times of Israel.
“Tamir must come home. Not because he was a hero, not because he was the first to fight, and not because they fought alone against the whole world. Simply because he is, above all, a human being. A man who loved life and loved living. Who loved Israel – both its land and its people.”
Officials estimate the militant group is still holding 49 people captive in Gaza, including two Americans. Of that number, it is believed 22 remain alive.
Police arrested a 61-year-old woman for “inflammatory remarks, contrary to the law.”
“With our soul and blood, we will redeem you, Gaza,” she said leading a group in chanting.
Police closed the area after the number of protesters thinned out.
Families are calling on Israelis for a nationwide day of solidarity on Tuesday.
A nationwide strike on Sunday commenced in Israel as several hundred thousand people protested. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum and October Council, which represents family members of hostages or relatives of those killed, organized the strike and demonstrations.
The council wanted nearly one million people to go through Hostages Square in Tel Aviv and others to join in activities at cities throughout the nation.
Elsewhere a mile away at Habima Square, an Arab-organized group called for an end to the war and hunger in the Gaza Strip.
They chanted “Stop the genocide,” “From Gaza to Jenin – stop killing children” and “we won’t die in the service of the settlements. They held photos of Palestinian children suffering from malnutrition.
It was organized by High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel, which represents Arab citizens, with the participation of the Arab political parties Hadash, Balad and Ta’al.
On Friday, the world hunger monitoring agency, Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, declared a famine in Northern Gaza, where starvation is affecting more than 500,000 people.
The area included Gaza City, the capital of the Palestinian enclave.
The Rome-based agency expects starvation numbers to surpass 600,000 people in September.
Netanyahu this week promised to begin a ground invasion of the city, approving an Israel Defense Forces plan to take control of the area.
At the time, he also called for the “immediate initiation of negotiations” related to hostages held by Hamas.
Lt. Ori Gerlic, 20, a platoon leader in the Kfir Brigade, was killed in an operational accident in the southern Gaza Strip, Israel Defense Forces said Saturday night. One month ago, five members of the brigade died in Beit Hanun in the northern Gaza Strip as part of a military maneuver involving devices.