Demonstrators at U.S. Embassy branch office in Tel Aviv call for peace

TEL AVIV, ISRAEL—As Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met privately with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House Monday afternoon, hundreds of activists gathered in front of the U.S. Embassy branch office in Tel Aviv. They called on Trump to pressure Netanyahu to accept the Trump administration’s 20-point ceasefire plan to bring home all of the Hamas hostages and end the war in Gaza.

As the sun set against a backdrop of sandy beach and the Mediterranean Sea, demonstrators held posters of hostages’ faces and waved Israeli and American flags. Many of the demonstrators accused the prime minister of sabotaging past ceasefire negotiations for political gain. “Most of the country—most of the people in the country—they want the hostages back,” said activist Temar Bermam. “They want to end the war now. Not tomorrow. Not yesterday.”

What has Netanyahu’s office had to say? In a statement with President Trump at the White House on Monday, Netanyahu expressed support for the Trump administration’s roadmap to a ceasefire, which involves an exchange of hostages and prisoners and would set up a transitional government. Specifically, he said it achieves Israel’s goals of bringing back the Israeli hostages, dismantling Hamas’ military capabilities, ending its political rule, and ensuring that Gaza never again poses a threat to Israel.

What if Hamas doesn’t agree to the ceasefire plan? Netanyahu said that if Hamas rejects the roadmap, then Israel will “finish the job” in Gaza. At the Tel Aviv protest, some of the activists called on the Trump administration to pressure Qatar to force Hamas to the table. Demonstrator Tzipy Dudai pointed to Qatar as the key to Hamas’ funding. “Qatar is the fuel of this war,” she said. “Qatar gives the money for the weapons. So if they stop it—no Hamas! Finished!”

Dig deeper: Read Carolina Lumetta’s report on Trump and Netanyahu’s joint press conference in Washington.