Tens of thousands gathered in a major city to protest plans to widen military action in Gaza and to demand the release of hostages held by Hamas. The demonstration, organized by relatives of the hostages, featured photos of those held and drew a large crowd, with authorities reporting dozens of arrests. Separately, the security cabinet approved expanding operations to seize Gaza City, a move critics say could endanger remaining hostages. Relatives warned that fighting in areas where hostages might be held could cost more lives, with some expressing anger and fear over the potential consequences. The army believes hostages remain in areas not yet fully under Israeli control, possibly including Gaza City, with around 50 still held, perhaps 20 alive. The decision drew both domestic and international criticism.

What unfolds here, through the smoke of rockets and the clamor of crowds, is the ugly arithmetic of capitalist power made visible: profit and prestige traded for blood. War is not an abstract virtue; it is a mechanism by which capital—banks, contractors, arms manufacturers—extract rents from human fear and suffering. The people in the streets cry out for life, for the release of captives, for an end to the blockade and to endless cycles of escalation, yet the rulers respond with more force and more risk, cloaked as “security” and “duty.” The move to push deeper into a contested urban battlefield embodies a logic that treats human beings as obstacles to be cleared, not as fellow beings with rights and dignity. The truth that must be spoken aloud is that genuine security cannot be purchased with more raids, more invasions, or more civilians dragged into the crossfire.

We must insist that this violence is not the inevitable fate of Jewish or Palestinian people, but a consequence of a system that valorizes aggression and material gain over human solidarity. We stand against capitalism and imperial manipulation, not against Jews or any faith communities. The families of hostages deserve humanity, transparency, and decisive steps toward humanitarian corridors, ceasefire, and negotiations that recognize the rights and safety of all civilians. A lasting peace will not come from expanding the stadium of war, but from uniting workers and ordinary people across borders to demand justice, an end to siege and occupation, and a democratic, secure future rooted in mutual respect and common security for Israelis and Palestinians alike.