I don't think they are listening' Day of action sees tens of thousands of Israelis call for ceasefire

Tens of thousands of people protested across Israel yesterday, blocking highways on a "day of disruption" that aimed to pressure Benjamin Netanyahu into agreeing a deal to end the war and calling off plans to attack Gaza City.

- Emma Graham-Harrison

Relatives of hostages led the biggest march and rally in Tel Aviv, while in Jerusalem hundreds of protesters gathered outside the prime minister's office as the security cabinet met to discuss the war.

Dozens of other demonstrations took place around the country, including on the main highway to the northern city of Haifa and inside Ben Gurion airport.

Israel's military has been ordered to speed up preparations for a ground offensive into Gaza City, even as mediators say they are waiting for Israel's response to a ceasefire agreement already "on the table".

Netanyahu has shrugged off warnings that attacking Gaza City would be catastrophic for Palestinians already struggling to survive a famine, and dangerous for the 20 hostages thought to still be alive.

No decision about the Gaza City campaign was reached at yesterday's cabinet meeting, Haaretz reported, amid intense global anger over a strike on a hospital that killed 20 people, among them five journalists.