Protests have erupted across Israel against plans to expand the military operation in the Gaza Strip and seize Gaza City, with thousands of people taking to the streets in various cities across the country, the BBC reported on Sunday.

Last Friday, Israel's security cabinet approved five principles for ending the fighting in Gaza. One of them is to "take control of security" in the Gaza Strip. The Israeli army said it was "ready to take control" of Gaza City.

According to a report in The Times of Israel, the plan to seize Gaza City, the largest city in the Gaza Strip, was passed at a meeting of Israel's security cabinet.

Of the 50 hostages in Gaza, 20 are believed to be still alive. Protesters fear that the plan to seize Gaza City will put the lives of the hostages at risk. At the time, protesters called on the government to ensure the hostages' release.

The announcement of the occupation of Gaza City was met with strong condemnation from the United Nations and other countries around the world. However, Israeli leaders have rejected these criticisms. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "This military operation will help us free our hostages."

A group representing the families of the hostages said on social media that the military operation in Gaza would only widen the war. It would put the hostages in even greater danger. The Israeli people are not willing to put them at risk.

"We want an end to the war," a branch of the group that took part in the protest in Jerusalem told the BBC. "Because our hostages are being held in Gaza. They are dying there. We want them all back home."

He also said, "Whatever happens to us, we still have to stop the war. This is necessary. We will stop the war."

"I will not serve in the military anymore," said a former soldier who took part in the protest. Max Kresch said he fought in the early days of the war in Gaza, but he will not go back to war now.

He added, "We fought together with more than 350 soldiers. But now we refuse to participate in Netanyahu's political war. As a result of this war, he is putting the hostages in Gaza in danger. In addition, he is putting many hungry innocent Palestinians there in danger."

The Times of Israel reported that protests took place near the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) headquarters in Tel Aviv, with families of hostages and soldiers protesting the escalation of military operations to protect them.

Israeli media reports that the mother of one of the hostages has called for a nationwide strike, although Israel's main labor union will not support it.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched an attack inside Israel. The attack killed 1,200 Israelis. At that time, Hamas took 251 hostages and brought them to Gaza. Within hours, Israel launched an all-out attack on Gaza. At least 61,300 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in the nearly two-year-old war. Almost all of the estimated 2.1 million residents of the valley have been displaced several times.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Falker Turk said in a statement on Saturday that the Israeli government's plan to annex the entire Gaza Strip must be immediately halted. This plan violates the ruling of the International Court of Justice.

The Palestinian presidential office said in a statement that Netanyahu's announcement of a full occupation of the Gaza Strip was an "unprecedented crime," adding that it was a continuation of genocide, planned killings, starvation and blockade. The Palestinian independence movement Hamas warned that Israel would pay a heavy price and lose all remaining hostages if it carried out its plan to occupy Gaza.

Turkey's Foreign Ministry said, "We call on the international community to take action against the implementation of this plan." British Prime Minister Keir Starmer described Israel's plan as a "wrong" decision. In response to Netanyahu's decision, Germany suspended the export of weapons to Israel that could be used in Gaza. China said it was deeply concerned by Israel's decision.

In addition, Saudi Arabia, Australia, Finland, the Netherlands, and Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid have condemned Netanyahu's plan to occupy Gaza City.

US Vice President JD Vance was asked whether US President Donald Trump was aware of Israel's plan to occupy Gaza City, but he declined to comment.

The United Nations Security Council called for an emergency meeting on Saturday after Israel announced its plan to occupy Gaza. The 15-member council, except for the United States and Panama, called for the meeting. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was deeply concerned by Israel's decision, a spokesman for the council said.