Israel-Hamas war: Protests mark 9 months since October 7

Thousands of protesters rallied across Israel on Sunday demanding a deal for the release of hostages in Gaza.

Protests began at 6:29 am (0329 GMT), corresponding to the time of the Hamas-led cross-border terror attack on October 7 that sparked the war in Gaza, according to local media, marking exactly nine months since that day.

For the "day of disruption," demonstrators blocked streets and intersections nationwide. On the main Tel Aviv-Jerusalem highway some tires burned before the police cleared the way.

Small groups of protesters gathered outside the homes of several ministers and coalition lawmakers with megaphones and banners.

Outside the house of cabinet minister Ron Dermer, a close ally of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, a small crowd shouted, "Total failure! Total failure!"

The protests were spurred by reports that there has been progress in negotiations, mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the US.

"We know that after many efforts an agreement is now in sight and we can already hear the ministers issuing threats and wishing that the agreement fails," Jehuda Cohen, whose son was kidnapped on October 7, told Haaretz newspaper.

Demonstrators also called for new elections, criticizing Netanyahu's reliance on his far-right coalition partners who oppose concessions to Hamas.

Hamas is classified as a terrorist organization by many countries including Israel and Germany.

Egyptian media reported that Cairo was "hosting Israeli and American delegations to discuss the outstanding points" for a potential cease-fire and hostage release deal.

Egypt's state-linked Al-Qahera News cited a high-level source in a report that Egypt was holding "consultations and contacts" with Hamas as part of efforts to come to an agreement.

Indirect talks in which the United States, Egypt and Qatar are mediating have been at a standstill, with Hamas calling for and end to the war in return for around 120 hostages still being held by the group.

Israel launched a large-scale military offensive in Gaza after Hamas militants launched a terror attack on Israel in October last year that included the massacre of 1,200 people and around 250 people being taken hostage.

kb,ss/rc (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)

Israel's offensive in Gaza in the past nine months has killed at least 38,153 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory's Health Ministry. 

There were at least 55 deaths in the past 24 hours, a ministry statement said, adding that 87,828 people have been wounded since the latest conflict began.

The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants, but the United Nations and multiple humanitarian organizations consider the casualty numbers broadly reliable.

Around half of Gaza's 2.3 million inhabitants are children, and the UN says the majority of civilians killed have been women and children. 

Israel launched its Gaza operation after Hamas carried out terror attacks in southern Israel on October 7.