The two seemingly opposing sides say they ultimately seek permanent solutions to the decades-long conflict and expressed frustration over their voices being drowned out by more violent, radical protesters who have commandeered the international spotlight. “It basically went silent after October 7,“ Amira Mohammed, a Palestinian citizen of Israel from east Jerusalem, told AFP. “The radicals became louder than the peace movement. So right now we’ve got to be radical about the peace that we want.” The march came on the heels of violent protests in the United States that coincided with the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who delivered his fourth address to Congress. During the U.S. protests, some pro-Palestine activists spray painted graffiti on buildings and statues, while others launched brutal assaults against local police. However, the Tel Aviv protesters oppose violence and hope to bring change through peaceful demonstrations. “We can’t stop violence with more violence. We need to ensure a good life for both Palestinians and Jews inside of Israel. We have to acknowledge that they have the same right to live here as us, that this is home for us both,” said 49-year-old teacher Carmit Bar Levy. The attack on October 7 resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people in Israel, with hundreds more taken hostage. Of the 251 taken hostage, 111 are still held in Gaza. According to the latest casualty figures, Israel’s military offensive following the attack has killed more than 39,000 Palestinians — roughly three-quarters of whom are women and children — while another 90,000 are injured. A recent letter to President Joe Biden from 45 medical professionals who volunteered in Gaza suggests that the death toll from the conflict has already exceeded 92,000. In a chilling forecast, a recent report published in The Lancet medical journal projects that factoring in indirect deaths (from causes such as reproductive, communicable, and non-communicable diseases) will likely push the total death toll to at least 186,000. Yet, despite these grim statistics, Tel Aviv protestors still hold out hope for an end to the conflict. “Their government and our government only want war, that’s the only thing they’re good at doing,“ said 23-year-old Maya Ofer, a student and member of activist group Standing Together. “Peace is the only way forward,“ said Marcello Oliki, 64, a survivor of the Hamas-attacks on kibbutz Nirim.In a rare display of unity, Jewish Israelis and Palestinians marched together through the streets of Tel Aviv to demand an end to the Gaza War.
