• Tens of thousands protest Prime Minister Netanyahu's plan to expand military operations in Gaza City.
• Netanyahu insists the military action is essential to defeat Hamas and ultimately free Gaza.
• The international community expresses alarm over the humanitarian crisis as thousands rally against the offensive.
• Countries worldwide, including France and Germany, condemn Israel's actions and their potential humanitarian impact.
• Hostage families demand a ceasefire, fearing the escalation endangers their loved ones held by Hamas.

Tens of thousands of Israelis took to the streets, particularly in Tel Aviv, to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to expand military operations in Gaza City. This unprecedented demonstration, one of the largest in recent months, reflected widespread dissatisfaction and fear over the government's approach, particularly regarding the safety of hostages still held by Hamas. Families of the 50 hostages urged for an immediate ceasefire and a cessation of military actions that they claimed could put lives at risk, according to Indian Times and BBC.

In response to the mounting protests, Netanyahu affirmed that Israel's military strategy is focused on dismantling Hamas entirely. "We have about 70 to 75 percent of Gaza under military control, but we have two remaining strongholds in Gaza City and the central camps," he explained, justifying the planned offensive. He maintains that these operations are aimed at securing both hostages and the region from further attacks, as he stated during a recent press conference Channel News Asia and CBS News.

Amid Israel's aggressive military stance, international leaders have condemned the actions taken in Gaza. French President Emmanuel Macron described the situation as a "disaster of unprecedented gravity" and warned that Israel's current military strategy could lead to permanent war. He called for an immediate ceasefire and demands for a UN-led stabilization mission in the region, which underscores growing global concerns about potential humanitarian crises resulting from the military operations, according to Le Monde and HuffPost.

As the humanitarian situation worsens, many countries have begun to react. Germany has announced halting military exports to Israel, while the U.K. and other European powers have expressed concerns about the Israeli government's strategy, which they argue exacerbates the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The backlash is compounded by rising fatalities in Gaza attributed to recent military operations, where reports indicate over 61,000 Palestinian casualties, including many civilians AA and NPR.

Netanyahu's government has faced increasing pressure from the families of hostages, who assert that military escalation jeopardizes their loved ones' safety. Former hostages also joined protests, demanding immediate action from the government to address their concerns amid fears of an all-out expansion of military operations into critical areas of Gaza, as highlighted in comprehensive reports from Reuters and The Hill.