Hundreds of thousands of Israelis packed Tel Aviv on the night of August 17 — blocking several main roadways — for one of the largest rallies since the war against Hamas began. The protesters urged the government to end the fighting in Gaza and secure the hostages’ release. An estimated half a million joined the protest in Tel Aviv, and more than a million participated nationwide as rallies and strikes swept Jerusalem, Haifa, Beersheba and other cities.

Coverage by AP, The New York Times, Times of Israel