Israeli politicians slammed the government ahead of the critical security cabinet meeting on Thursday, set to determine if Israel would go forward with full Gaza occupation, as protests against the decision raged outside the meeting.
Family members of hostages held in Hamas captivity, along with hundreds of demonstrators, demanded that the government not proceed with the plans for the operation, warning of its harm.
"We appeal to the cabinet," said Anat Angrest, mother of hostage Matan Angrest. "Escalating the fighting is a death sentence and the immediate disappearance of our loved ones,” she explained.
“Look us in the eyes when you choose to sacrifice them," she said.
Lishay Miran-Lavi, wife of Omri Miran, who was also kidnapped by Hamas, shouted at the protest, "Enough! Yesterday evening, when the plans to escalate fighting were revealed, I wrote, I called, I begged. And today, we are here."
Hostage families, opposition say hostages abandoned
Opposition leader Yair Lapid (Yesh Atid) condemned the plan, posting, "What [Prime Minister Benjamin] Netanyahu is offering is more war, more dead hostages, more 'cleared for publication' notices, and tens of billions of shekels of taxpayers' money that will be poured into the delusions of [National Security Minister] Itamar Ben Gvir and [Finance Minister Bezalel] Smotrich."
Yair Golan, head of the Democrats Party, referred to the decision as “a vote to sacrifice our sons, daughters, and the entire future of the State of Israel on the altar of the vision of military rule and settlement in Gaza.”
“Tonight, the process of abandonment will reach its peak, and the government will decide to leave our kidnapped brothers to their suffering and death,” he continued.
“If the cabinet decides to conquer Gaza, the result will be devastating. The hostages will die. Soldiers will fall. Billions of shekels from hardworking and serving Israeli taxpayers will fund military rule in Gaza,” Golan added.
Kibbutz Kfar Aza members said they were "deeply disturbed and concerned" about the government's decision, and added that this implied that Gali and Zvi Berman were effectively abandoned.
"We will not accept a situation in which the State of Israel chooses and declares openly that it is giving up on the hostages. We will not accept this reality, and we will not remain silent in the face of this moral and ethical failure," a statement from the Kibbutz said.
"The rehabilitation and revival of the Kfar Aza community are impossible while our loved ones rot in Hamas tunnels in Gaza."
Zamir promises IDF's view on Gaza plan will be presented before government
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir underscored, “We are dealing with matters of life and death in the defense of the country.”
Zamir promised to express the military's position on the matter to the government "without fear" before the Thursday meeting.
The military plan, proposed by Netanyahu and deliberated in the meeting, includes encircling Gaza City and relocating around one million residents to the southern part of the strip.
Amichai Stein contributed to this report.