As relentless Israeli bombardment continues to devastate Gaza, protests have erupted inside Israel—not to demand an end to the destruction, but to call for the release of Israeli prisoners held in the Strip. Families of those detained in Gaza rallied this weekend outside the residence of President Isaac Herzog and the head of the Knesset’s Defence Committee, urging the government to secure a deal.

The demonstrators, supported by the so-called Families Forum, warned that Israel "cannot recover without the return of the detainees,” pressing for immediate negotiations. Another large protest is expected in Tel Aviv, demanding that Israeli officials prioritise prisoner release over further escalation.

On Friday, similar protests were held outside the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, where relatives held photographs of their loved ones and criticised the Israeli government for rejecting a comprehensive agreement.

Meanwhile, in Gaza, entire neighbourhoods lie in ruins, thousands of civilians have been killed, and basic services are collapsing. Yet as families in Tel Aviv demand the return of Israeli prisoners, Palestinian families continue to dig through rubble, searching for the remains of their own loved ones—with no international outcry, no diplomatic pressure, and no sign of justice.