Since then Israel has placed the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, under a total siege and bombarded it with unprecedented air strikes. Gaza authorities say 2,200 people have been killed, a quarter of them children, and nearly 10,000 wounded.
Israel has said it has confirmed the identities of 120 held by Hamas captors and has informed their next of kin.
Troops were massing around the Gaza Strip, "getting ready for the next stage of operations," military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus said. But in Tel Aviv, family members of people missing since Hamas's Oct. 7 attack are demanding the government prioritize rescuing the hostages.
"I'm here because I want to make sure that it's loud and clear that the first priority should be bringing them (the hostages) home," said protester Inbar Ravid.
