Israelis begin 'day of disruption' as Gaza war enters 10th month

Protests expected outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's private residence in Jerusalem

Live updates: Follow the latest on Israel-Gaza

Israelis began nationwide marches and protests outside politicians' homes on Sunday, exactly nine months since the war in Gaza began, as a “day of disruption” got under way.

Crowds gathered outside the homes of several prominent government members, including Transportation Minister Miri Regev, Foreign Minister Israel Katz, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and Knesset Speaker Amit Ohana, among others, calling for a ceasefire deal in Gaza and the return of Israeli hostages held in the enclave.

Protests are also expected to take place outside the army headquarters in Tel Aviv, while demonstrators blocked roads across the country on Sunday morning, including in Caesarea and the northern city of Acre.

Videos showed protesters shouting outside Mr Ohana's home, carrying posters of hostages still held in Gaza, with signs reading “Blood is on the hands of the right-wing government”.

It comes as part of a “week of resistance” organised by Israeli activists, who gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday to rally against the government and push for a deal with Hamas to end the war.

The aim of the demonstrations is "to bring the country to a complete standstill" and put "unprecedented pressure" on an already unpopular government, according to a statement from organisers.

Many industries, including a collective of several hundred tech companies, have allowed their employees to work remotely to participate in the demonstrations.

Protests are expected to reach a peak on Sunday evening, when demonstrators will march from Jerusalem's Sacher Park to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's private residence in the city.

Demonstrators blocked Tel Aviv's Dizengoff Street and parts of Kaplan Street – renamed "Democracy Square" by activists – early on Sunday afternoon as similar crowds gathered in the northern city of Haifa.

"Enough of the government of destruction," read a banner held by protesters marching on Highway 4 near Ra'anana.

Others gathered outside the home of Mr Gallant, saying the minister “must not turn a blind eye until the end of the war”.

Approval of the right-wing government led by Mr Netanyahu has dipped to new lows.

“We know that after many efforts a deal is now taking shape, and we can already hear ministers shouting threats and wishes that the deal will fail,” Yehuda Cohen, father of hostage Nimron Cohen, told Haaretz at a demonstration in Kiryat Ono.

One protester was injured after being knocked over by police on Jerusalem's light-rail tracks, the newspaper reported, and a heavily pregnant woman was dragged away by officers.

"There's someone who has an interest in torpedoing a deal, even when its in the very advanced stages," the woman, named as Gali, was quoted as saying. "Therefore, unless it happens, we will keep being here."

Mr Netanyahu has maintained he will not agree to a ceasefire deal until Israel's “war goals” are met, namely the dismantling of Hamas, which led an attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people on October 7. More than 38,100 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's retaliatory assault on Gaza.

Months of talks, mediated by Qatar and Egypt, have failed to secure an agreement, and discussions are expected to resume this week.