Protesters took to streets across Israel as part of the nationwide “day of struggle” demonstrations, during which they called for an immediate cease-fire to end the Israel-Hamas war and the release of all remaining hostages in Gaza.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum displayed a large Israeli flag adorned with photos of hostages in front of the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv on Tuesday. Crowds of protesters reportedly gathered outside the headquarters of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office in Jerusalem, while other activists staged road-block demonstrations, with one taking place near Habonim.
Although peaceful protesting was encouraged by the organizations advocating for action, demonstrations on roads north of Tel Aviv and on a highway near the town of Pardes Hanna-Karkur saw some protesters burning tires.
The protests culminated in a march through central Tel Aviv to a public plaza now known as Hostages Square, with a rally following thereafter.
Read More: As the Families of Murdered Hostages, Our Message to People in Power Is Simple: Act
Holocaust survivors addressed the crowds at Hostages Square, reiterating calls for the release of those held captive in Gaza. Hamas took around 250 hostages when it launched a terror attack on Israel on Oct. 7. 2023. Of the estimated 250 hostages, 140 have been released during negotiations, eight have been rescued, and the bodies of 57 who died in captivity or during rescue attempts have been recovered. It’s thought that 20 living hostages are still being held by Hamas and other militants.
“Israel stands together. The people of Israel stand for the hostages… Today, on day 690 [of the Israel-Hamas war] we demand that the Israeli government [make] a deal and release all the hostages,” said Yehuda Cohen, the father of hostage Nimrod Cohen, in a statement the Hostages and Missing Families Forum shared with TIME.
The forum also expressed its “disappointment” after reports circulated that Netanyahu would not be raising the topic of a cease-fire deal at a security cabinet meeting on Tuesday evening.
“It is deeply disappointing that on the very day when masses of Israelis take to the streets demanding the return of all hostages and an end to the war, the government continues to delay progress on the agreement, contrary to the people’s will,” the group said.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Qatar, one of the primary mediators for negotiations between Israel and Hamas, alleged on Tuesday that Israel has not yet replied to a cease-fire proposal that was accepted by Hamas last week.
TIME has reached out to Netanyahu’s office for comment.
World leaders, including U.S. President Donald Trump, and humanitarian organizations were united in their condemnation of Israeli strikes on the Al Nasser hospital in Gaza that killed at least 20 people on Monday, including five journalists and medical workers.
A statement from Netanyahu’s office said Israel “deeply regrets the tragic mishap that occurred” and that the country “values the work of journalists, medical staff, and all civilians.” The military authorities are said to be conducting a “thorough investigation” as to what took place.
The International Committee for the Red Cross (ICRC) called the strikes “unacceptable,” imploring that “medical facilities, civilians, journalists, and first responders must be protected.”
The Israel-Hamas war started after Hamas launched a terror attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing over 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages. Over 62,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
In the absence of independent monitoring on the ground, the ministry is the primary source for casualty data relied upon by humanitarian groups, journalists, and international bodies. Its figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants and cannot be independently verified by TIME. Data from the IDF suggests a Palestinian civilian death rate of 83%.