Daijiworld Media Network – Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv, Aug 5: As Israel's war in Gaza enters its 22nd month, internal divisions have sharpened, pitting citizens against each other in an increasingly polarised society. Calls for a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages by peace activists and hostage families have clashed with the hardline stance of right-wing ministers advocating further occupation of Palestinian land.

Emanuel Yitzchak Levi, a 29-year-old poet and peace activist, summed up the mood at a gathering in Tel Aviv's Dizengoff Square: "It’s really hard to be a good son or brother to someone you believe supports crimes against humanity." The peace meeting was interrupted by a cyclist who shouted “traitors” at attendees, symbolising the rising tensions.

For many, the war that began after Hamas’s October 2023 attacks – which killed 1,219 people – once felt like a just cause. But opinions have shifted as the conflict drags on and civilian deaths in Gaza mount.

Tel Aviv tech worker Dvir Berko voiced a more conservative view: “The Palestinian people are controlled by Hamas... bad things are going to happen in war. You don’t send the other side flowers.” He insisted aid should be withheld until all hostages are freed.

The divisions reflect deeper social fault lines. Veteran journalist Meron Rapoport noted that the war, initially unifying, has now reignited political dissent. “People are concluding that the war’s continuation is driven by politics, not military necessity,” he said.

According to a recent survey by the Institute for National Security Studies, most Israelis still blame Hamas for delays in a hostage deal. However, only 24% of Israeli Jews express strong concern about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza — where UN reports suggest famine is looming.

Hostage families and former security officials are growing more vocal. A recent open letter by 550 former Israeli diplomats, military officers, and intelligence chiefs urged US President Donald Trump to press Prime Minister Netanyahu for a ceasefire and hostage deal, warning the war no longer serves Israeli security.

“This war ceased to be just once we achieved our military objectives,” said former Shin Bet chief Ami Ayalon, warning that Israel risks losing its identity and global standing.

Peace activist and biblical archaeologist Avi Ofer, wearing a yellow ribbon marked with “667” — the number of days since war began — said, “This is the most awful period in my life.” He acknowledged Hamas’s crimes but warned that Israel’s actions now risk making it a pariah state.

While few Israelis use the term “genocide,” many worry that ongoing ICJ proceedings and international scrutiny could turn their own soldiers into suspects abroad.

Despite growing calls for peace, Netanyahu — backed by the US — remains defiant, prolonging a war that continues to test the very fabric of Israeli society.