Israeli flags and portraits of hostages held in the Gaza Strip were displayed at Tel Aviv's Hostage Square, a frequent gathering point for those opposing the Gaza conflict. Protesters also blocked roads, including the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem highway, burning tires and disrupting traffic.

Protest organizers and groups representing hostage families called for a general strike on Sunday, the first day of the week in Israel. Many businesses in major cities closed.

"I think it's time to end this war and release all the hostages. It's time to help Israel recover and move towards a more stable Middle East," said 54-year-old protester Doron Wilfand.

Israeli security forces disperse protesters in a tunnel on 17/8. Photo: *AFP*

The Hostages and Missing Persons Forum vowed to "shut down the country today" with the message "Bring the hostages home, end the war." They planned to set up protest tents near the Gaza border, pledging to intensify their efforts to bring their loved ones home. "If we don't bring the hostages back now, we will lose them forever," the group said.

Protests also took place in Beeri, a community near the Gaza border and one of the hardest hit during the Hamas attack in 10/2023.

Israeli media reported demonstrations across the country.

Speaking at a Tel Aviv protest, Israeli President Isaac Herzog affirmed officials' desire to return the hostages as soon as possible and called for international pressure on Hamas.

Some hard-line members of the Israeli government, opposed to a ceasefire with Hamas, condemned the protests. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich criticized them as a "misguided campaign that is harming Israel and aiding Hamas."

Culture Minister Miki Zohar said blocking roads and disrupting daily life "is a serious mistake and a reward for the enemy."

Israeli police increased their presence, declaring zero tolerance for public disorder.

Protesters in Kiryat Shmona, a community in northern Israel, on 17/8. Photo: *AFP*

The protests occurred over a week after Israel's cabinet approved a plan to occupy Gaza City to defeat Hamas.

The Gaza conflict erupted in 10/2023 after Israel launched an operation in response to a Hamas attack that killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in the capture of 251 hostages.

Around 49 hostages remain in Gaza, including 27 believed dead by the Israeli military. The conflict has claimed nearly 62,000 lives, according to Hamas-controlled health authorities.

Recent videos released by Hamas show two emaciated and weakened hostages, raising concerns about their fate.

Hong Hanh (*AFP*)