Tens of thousands of Israelis rallied in central Tel Aviv at the end of a day of national protests demanding their government agree a deal to free hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.
Sunday’s demonstrations, organised by groups representing families of the hostages, came a week after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced plans to intensify Israel’s offensive in Gaza, despite warnings from the military that it would endanger the hostages’ lives.
There has also been intense international condemnation of Netanyahu’s plans to escalate Israel’s devastating 22-month offensive, which has caused a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza and brought the Palestinian enclave to the brink of famine.