TEL AVIV, Israel—For 67 consecutive Saturdays, Israeli protesters, dissatisfied with the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, marched in the streets demanding the release of hostages held by Hamas and an end to the war.

On Sunday, Israel and Hamas implemented the first phase of a tentative cease-fire, which includes the gradual release of 33 hostages kidnapped by Hamas militants during the Oct. 7, 2023 attack. Hamas killed approximately 1,200 Israelis during the raid, according to officials. This led to a destructive retaliatory Israeli military campaign in Gaza, killing an estimated 46,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. 

The first phase of the truce will last for six weeks, in which Israel will retreat from some areas in the Gaza Strip and release hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons. 

In the weeks and months leading to the deal, a sea of flags, torches, and posters of the hostages congregated in front of Camp Rabin, the Israeli military’s main headquarters. The protests evolved from Israeli anti-government demonstrations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s 2023 judicial reform, which aimed to limit the powers of the judicial branch and destabilize checks and balances. 

In the early weeks of the war, the protests focused solely on the return of the hostages. As time progressed, many within Israeli society became increasingly furious at the failed attempts at a hostage deal, some accused Netanyahu of thwarting deals in order to keep his coalition and remain in power. 

See photos of the chanting, fire, and art installations from the streets of Tel Aviv, Israel, as demonstrated gathered to demand an end to the war and the return of all hostages.