Jerusalem. Israel on Sunday held its biggest-ever protest demanding the release of remaining hostages in Gaza. Organizers claim hundreds of thousands of people have participated.

Protesters blocked roads, squares, military headquarters and in front of leaders’ homes. Police have arrested 38 people.

Protesters showed pictures of malnourished children from Gaza to express anger over the suffering of the war. Currently, more than 250 people in Gaza have died due to hunger or malnutrition.

Of the remaining 50 hostages in Gaza, only about 20 are believed to be alive. The families of the hostages blamed both the government and Hamas.

Veterans and intelligence officials have also pointed to the need for a deal to end the war. However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has objected to the deal, saying that “calls to stop the war until Hamas is defeated will delay the liberation of hostages and ensure another attack”.

Earlier, there were threats to topple Netanyahu’s government after a ceasefire was agreed to release some hostages. Finance Minister Bezel smotrich called the protests a “campaign to play into the hands of Hamas”.

Meanwhile, Israeli forces killed at least 17 people seeking help in Gaza, hospitals said. They were waiting for a UN truck. Witnesses said the army opened fire on the crowd. Three more people were reportedly killed in an attack on the Burez camp in central Gaza.

Gaza’s health ministry says more than 61,900 people have been killed since the start of the war. Half of them are women and children. Two children and five adults died of malnutrition on Sunday alone, the ministry said. The United Nations has warned that hunger has reached its highest level in Gaza.

Israeli forces are now preparing to launch new attacks on Gaza City, Muwasi and other crowded areas. Although the army plans to move people south, bombs have also been hurled in places called ‘safe zones’. Many Palestinians have vowed not to leave their places, saying there is “no security in Gaza”.

Meanwhile, Israel launched air strikes on Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen. A power plant in the capital Sana was damaged in the attack. Israel said the strikes were carried out in response to missile and drone attacks targeting its soil. The Houthis claimed to have targeted Ben Gurion airport.