**Mood Shifts in Israel as Public Anger at Gaza War Grows**
The mood has changed in Israel, with a growing number of people speaking out against the country’s military actions in Gaza. The outrage is not just from Palestinian citizens, but also from Jewish Israelis who are beginning to question the government’s handling of the conflict.
Former Israeli minister of defense and IDF chief Moshe Ya’alon made headlines on Wednesday when he said that Israel’s military offensive in Gaza was a “government policy” aimed at holding onto power. This statement sparked even more anger, with many accusing the government of using the war as a way to maintain control and stay in office.
**Who Supports the War?**
Despite the growing opposition, there are still some Israelis who support the government’s actions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claims that he can achieve a “total win” against Hamas and rescue the remaining hostages. He has a core of supporters who agree with him, but they are in the minority.
According to Gershon Baskin, a former Israeli hostage negotiator, the overwhelming majority of Israelis think that the war must end and there needs to be an accord. A small majority believes that the primary goal is to finish off Hamas, and then hostages will be released.
**Protests Grow**
On Sunday, around 500 protesters marched from Sderot to the Gaza border in protest of Israel’s new offensive. They were led by Standing Together, a small but growing anti-war movement of Jewish and Palestinian citizens in Israel. Alon-Lee Green, the leader of this group, was arrested along with eight other people after they attempted to block a highway.
Uri Weltmann, another activist from Standing Together, believes that there’s a rising belief that continuing the conflict is “not only harmful for the Palestinian civilians, but also risks hostages, risks soldiers, risks our lives”.
**International Pressure Mounts**
The international community is also speaking out against Israel’s actions in Gaza. The EU is reviewing its association agreement with Israel, which governs their political and economic relationship. Foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that a “strong” majority of members favored a review of the 25-year-old agreement.
As the pressure mounts, it seems clear that the mood has indeed changed in Israel. The public is increasingly speaking out against the war, and there’s a growing sense of despair, trauma, and lack of ability to do anything. It remains to be seen how the government will respond to this shift in public opinion.
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