Israel faced growing pressure from its European allies over the humanitarian cost of its offensive against Hamas, as the UK, Germany and France stepped up calls for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The calls on Sunday for a pause in the fighting from three of Israel’s closest allies came as Israeli protesters urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to negotiate another hostage release deal with Hamas, the armed group that controls the besieged coastal enclave.
Israel has seen some of its most significant demonstrations since the outbreak of the war on October 7 after its army admitted on Saturday that it shot and killed three Israelis who were waving a white flag and presumed to have escaped from Hamas captivity in the strip.