Israelis took to the streets on Sunday to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to expand operations in the Gaza Strip rather than attempt to negotiate an end to the war under which Hamas would free its last hostages.

This photo taken with a mobile phone shows a protester waving the Palestinian flag to protest the ongoing war and famine in Gaza at the monument, the Angel of Independence, in Mexico City, Mexico, on Aug. 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Wu Wei)

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assured Israelis Saturday night that he only plans to halt the take over Gaza City if Hamas agrees to all of the Jewish state’s demands for ending the war — after the terror group reportedly signaled it was open to a partial cease-fire for the first time.

After nearly two years of war, the Israeli military says it controls about 75 percent of Gaza. The United Nations says more than 86 percent of Gaza is within the Israeli militarized zone or under evacuation orders.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last Sunday said that before launching the offensive, the civilian population will be evacuated to what he described as "safe zones" from Gaza City, which he called Hamas' last stronghold.

Anxious families of hostages have called for a “nationwide day of stoppage” in Israel on Sunday to express growing frustration over 22 months of war.