Tens of thousands of grieving and angry Israelis took to the streets after six captives were found dead in Gaza.
Chanting “Now, now!”, the crowd on Sunday night demanded that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reach a ceasefire deal with Hamas so that the remaining captives could return home.
The mass outpouring of anger appeared to be the largest of its kind in 11 months of war. Protesters said it looked like a possible turning point, though the country remains deeply divided.
Israel's largest trade union, the Histadrut, has sought to increase the pressure by calling for a general strike on Monday. It aims to shut down or disrupt major sectors of the economy, including banking, healthcare and the country's main airport.
Negotiations for a ceasefire have dragged on for months. Many blame Netanyahu for failing to reach a deal, which opinion polls show is supported by a majority of Israelis.
Three of the six captives who were found dead, including an Israeli-American, were reportedly set to be released in the first phase of a proposed ceasefire deal discussed in July. This fueled anger and frustration among protesters.
The army said the six captives were killed shortly before Israeli forces arrived.
Netanyahu blamed Hamas for the deadlock in negotiations. “Whoever kills hostages does not want a deal,” he said.
Hamas has offered to release the captives in exchange for an end to the war, the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza and the release of a large number of Palestinian prisoners, including high-profile members of Gaza's armed groups.
Senior security officials say the intense pressure on Hamas has created favourable conditions for a ceasefire agreement. The army, noting the difficulty of rescue operations, has acknowledged that a deal is the only way to bring home a large number of captives safely.
