Tens of thousands of Israelis protested in Tel Aviv and other cities, demanding a ceasefire and a hostage deal ahead of the government's planned military operation in Gaza City. Families of hostages called for a nationwide strike, warning that the cabinet's decision could endanger the remaining captives. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains defiant, insisting the goal is to free Gaza from Hamas, but the plan has drawn widespread international condemnation and warnings of worsening humanitarian conditions.

The Palestinian Authority and over twenty countries have denounced the operation as a dangerous escalation, while the United Nations Security Council is set to hold an emergency meeting. The civilian toll in Gaza continues to rise, with severe shortages of aid and increasing deaths from malnutrition. Mediators from Egypt and Qatar are working on a new proposal that could see all hostages released in exchange for ending the war and withdrawing Israeli forces.