The latest, and biggest, demonstrations occurred in early May, involving Palestinian and Jewish speakers and thousands marching in Tel-Aviv under the banner: “Stop the War, Bring Back the Hostages”.
By Uri Weltmann and Federico Fuentes, Green Left
Though largely ignored by the Western media, there is a burgeoning movement for ceasefire inside Israel — and it is shifting public opinion.
An Israel Democracy Institute poll conducted in the first week of May found that 62% of Israelis believe the government’s top priority should be a ceasefire deal. This compared with less than 40% in mid-January who favoured a ceasefire in return for the release of the hostages held by Hamas.

Federico Fuentes spoke with Standing Together’s national field organiser Uri Weltmann to find out more about this fledgling peace movement.
* * *
How has the peace movement developed since October 7? Is it shifting public opinion and undermining Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s support? What role is Standing Together playing within the movement?
After October 7, Israeli police limited people’s right to protest. That is why, throughout October and November, most of the actions taken by the peace movement were not necessarily marches, pickets and rallies.
Instead, we hung posters in the streets saying “Only Peace Will Bring Security” and organised emergency Jewish-Arab conferences in two dozen towns and cities across Israel.
Only in December did openings arise to organise larger protests. Standing Together brought hundreds to a rally in Haifa on December 16, and a thousand people to a rally in Tel Aviv on December 28.
In January, we had our first march against the war, with more than 30 peace movements and organisations mobilising thousands.
Recent Posts
From Guernica to Gaza, Mass Killers Have Been Above It All
August 28, 2025
Take Action Now The Detached Cruelty of Air PowerBy Norman Solomon, Tom Dispatch Killing from the sky has long offered the sort of detachment that…
Sanders Will Rally With Maine Challenger To Susan Collins, Graham Platner
August 28, 2025
Take Action Now Platner condemned “endless wars” and backed universal health care in his campaign launch video.By Sharon Zhang, TruthOut Sen.…
Yesterday’s DNC Meeting Proves Democrats Still Don’t Get It
August 28, 2025
Take Action Now Democrats aren’t setting the stage for a movement. They’re letting Trump set the terms of the debate — again.By Corbin Trent,…
In D.C., An Authoritarian Dress Rehearsal
August 28, 2025
Take Action Now The spectacle of Trump’s Washington takeover may be fascist pageantry, but it’s also something more.By Alberto Toscano, In These…