Thousands of Israelis gathered outside the Ministry of Defence in Tel Aviv on Saturday night, demanding that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government prioritize the release of hostages held in Gaza over continued military operations.

Led by relatives of those still held captive, the demonstrators called for renewed diplomatic efforts to bring their loved ones home, urging the government to shift focus from military escalation to negotiation. Many of the captives have been held for months, intensifying public frustration over the lack of progress toward a resolution.

Prominent Israeli journalist Gideon Levy described the protests as heartfelt but insufficient to sway the current government. “It’s the same courageous, committed group,” Levy told Al Jazeera. “But it’s not large enough to pressure Netanyahu’s coalition. Too many in Israeli society still back the war.”

Despite growing calls for a change in strategy, the Netanyahu administration has maintained its military objectives in Gaza, with no clear signs of a policy shift. Weekly protests have become a mainstay as families of the hostages continue to call for urgent action to end what they describe as a prolonged humanitarian crisis.

With the conflict dragging on, the Israeli government faces increasing scrutiny over how it will reconcile domestic pressure to secure the hostages’ release with its ongoing military campaign.