Palestinians participate in a protest demanding an end to the ongoing conflict with Israel and calling for international protection for civilians in Gaza City, on Aug. 21, 2025. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
GAZA, Aug. 21 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of Palestinians demonstrated in Gaza City on Thursday, demanding an end to the ongoing conflict with Israel and calling for international protection for civilians.
The protest, held in front of the Rashad Shawa Cultural Center in the city center, brought together men, women, and children carrying Palestinian flags and banners reading, "No to displacement," "Stop the war," and "International protection is a right for civilians."
Organizers said the demonstration, named the "Last Hour Movement," was intended to highlight the suffering of residents in the Gaza Strip who have been enduring nearly two years of war.
During the gathering, demonstrators raised pictures of relatives killed in recent bombardments, while others held flowers and portraits of children.
At the same time, local residents reported that Israeli airstrikes hit several residential areas in Gaza City's Zeitoun and Sabra neighborhoods.
"This is the cry of a people who have endured massacres and starvation. We came here to say to the world: stop this war, stop this killing. We want to live in our land," Mohammed al-Daor, a local journalist from Gaza City, told Xinhua.
Radi Abu Shamala, another protester, said, "People are being killed every day. The international community must act. There is no excuse left for silence."
The protest took place amid growing concern over an escalation of Israel's military operations.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his security cabinet are expected to meet on Thursday to give final approval for a new offensive on Gaza City, an Israeli official told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.
It came a day after Israel's military spokesman Effie Defrin said ground assaults were already underway in Gaza City's Zaytun neighborhood and the nearby town of Jabalia, with more forces set to join the fighting.
Demonstrators responded to these developments by chanting against forced displacement and holding banners that read, "We will not leave Gaza."
Shaimaa Abu Amra, a protester from Gaza, told Xinhua that the protest reflected the depth of public frustration.
"When ordinary people beyond political factions take to the streets, it shows how difficult life has become. They are sending a message not only to Israel, but also to the international community and Palestinian leaders," she said.
She added that the protest was part of a wider campaign that has continued since the outbreak of the war. She urged unions, civil society organizations, and intellectuals to join efforts to demand an end to the conflict.
The demonstration also reflected the humanitarian challenges facing Gaza's population.
With limited access to food, water, and medicine, and hospitals struggling with shortages of fuel and medical supplies, residents say their daily lives have become increasingly unbearable.
"The war is not only killing us with bombs; it is depriving us of basic needs. We want to live like others in the world," said Salma Hazem, a local protester. ■
Palestinians participate in a protest demanding an end to the ongoing conflict with Israel and calling for international protection for civilians in Gaza City, on Aug. 21, 2025. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Palestinians participate in a protest demanding an end to the ongoing conflict with Israel and calling for international protection for civilians in Gaza City, on Aug. 21, 2025. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Palestinians participate in a protest demanding an end to the ongoing conflict with Israel and calling for international protection for civilians in Gaza City, on Aug. 21, 2025. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Palestinians participate in a protest demanding an end to the ongoing conflict with Israel and calling for international protection for civilians in Gaza City, on Aug. 21, 2025. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Palestinians participate in a protest demanding an end to the ongoing conflict with Israel and calling for international protection for civilians in Gaza City, on Aug. 21, 2025. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Palestinians participate in a protest demanding an end to the ongoing conflict with Israel and calling for international protection for civilians in Gaza City, on Aug. 21, 2025. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Palestinians participate in a protest demanding an end to the ongoing conflict with Israel and calling for international protection for civilians in Gaza City, on Aug. 21, 2025. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
Palestinians participate in a protest demanding an end to the ongoing conflict with Israel and calling for international protection for civilians in Gaza City, on Aug. 21, 2025. (Photo by Rizek Abdeljawad/Xinhua)
