Hundreds of protesters rallied outside the prime minister's office in Jerusalem on August 7, calling for an end to the Gaza offensive and the release of hostages, as Israel's security cabinet met to discuss a possible ground takeover of the territory.

In an interview before the meeting, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel intends to "remove Hamas" and hand Gaza to a civilian administration backed by Arab partners. More than 61,100 people have been killed in Gaza since the conflict began in October 2023, according to Palestinian authorities, and much of the enclave has been left in ruins.