Protests are growing in Israel against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hardline stance on fighting the Islamic group Hamas in the Gaza Strip.



Talks to explore a ceasefire in Gaza remain gridlocked. Israel's government seeks another temporary truce to secure the release of hostages still held in the enclave. Hamas wants a permanent ceasefire in return for the release of all remaining hostages.



Netanyahu seeks to eliminate Hamas. He issued a statement on Saturday, saying that if Israel surrenders to the group's demands now, all of the "great achievements" that his country has made thanks to its fighters "will simply have been for naught."



However, an increasing number of people in Israel are rallying against the prime minister's policy. They include protesters pursuing the release of hostages through a ceasefire.



The demonstrators say the resumption of attacks on Gaza puts the lives of the hostages in danger. A rally in central Israel led to a fierce clash between protesters and police on Saturday.



The result of an opinion poll published by an Israeli media outlet late last month showed that 69 percent of Israeli respondents support ending the conflict in exchange for a deal that releases all of the hostages.



Israel has been continuing military attacks on Gaza every day. Health officials in Gaza said on Sunday that the death toll in the territory since October 2023 had climbed to 51,201. They said the figure includes 44 counted over the past 24 hours.