Thousands Protest in Tel Aviv, Demand Release of Hostages from Gaza
Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Tel Aviv, Israel, to protest against the government and demand the release of hostages held in Gaza. The protesters assembled at army headquarters and government buildings, chanting slogans against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and urging him to make peace with Hamas to secure the release of over one hundred prisoners.
The protests intensified after the bodies of six hostages were recovered from Gaza two weeks ago. An estimated 750,000 people attended the demonstration last weekend. Families of the captives expressed frustration with the government’s ineffective efforts to negotiate their release, blaming Netanyahu for the failure.
The conflict in Gaza escalated after an October 7 attack by Hamas, where about 2,500 terrorists breached the border into Israel, causing casualties and taking hostages. Israel’s offensive in Gaza aims to target Hamas’ infrastructure while minimizing civilian casualties.
In a recent incident, six staff members of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) were killed in Israeli airstrikes on a school-turned-shelter in Gaza. The shelter, located in Nuseirat, housed around 12,000 displaced people, mainly women and children. This was the fifth time the school had been hit since the conflict began 11 months ago.
Doubts Revealed
Tel Aviv -: Tel Aviv is a big city in Israel, a country in the Middle East. It’s known for its beaches and modern buildings.
Gaza -: Gaza is a small area of land where many Palestinians live. It is often in the news because of conflicts with Israel.
hostages -: Hostages are people who are captured and held by someone, usually to force others to do something in return for their release.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu -: Benjamin Netanyahu is the leader of Israel. A Prime Minister is like the head of the government, similar to the Prime Minister of India.
Hamas -: Hamas is a group in Gaza that has conflicts with Israel. They have their own army and sometimes fight with the Israeli army.
UN staff members -: UN staff members are people who work for the United Nations, an international organization that tries to help countries work together and solve problems.
Israeli airstrikes -: Israeli airstrikes are attacks by Israel’s military using airplanes to drop bombs on targets. These are often used in conflicts.
displaced people -: Displaced people are those who have to leave their homes because of danger, like war or natural disasters. They often live in temporary shelters.