JERUSALEM/ISTANBUL 

Families of Israelis held captive in Gaza protested on Friday outside the home of Defense Minister Israel Katz near the southern city of Ashkelon, urging the government to prioritize a prisoner exchange over expanding its military campaign.

The demonstration came hours after the Israeli Security Cabinet approved Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s phased plan to seize full control of the Gaza Strip, a move that has raised deep concerns among relatives of the captives.

“A full occupation of Gaza and further escalation will lead to the death of the captives and more soldiers,” said Yair, whose brother Eitan Horn is among those held in Gaza.

Several demonstrators, including former detainees, held up photos of their captive relatives, according to the Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth.

Israeli estimates suggest that around 50 people are still being held in Gaza, with about 20 of them believed to be alive. Meanwhile, more than 10,800 Palestinians are imprisoned in Israel, with widespread reports of torture, starvation, and medical neglect. Rights groups say dozens of Palestinians have died in custody since the war began.

Netanyahu’s plan reportedly begins with the forced displacement of nearly 1 million Palestinians from Gaza City, followed by a siege and targeted raids. A second phase envisions the takeover of refugee camps in central Gaza, many of which have already been heavily bombarded.

According to the UN, Israel controls 87% of the Gaza Strip and has issued evacuation orders. The UN has warned that any further expansion will have "catastrophic consequences" for the enclave's civilian population.

Israel has been facing mounting outrage over its destructive war on Gaza, where more than 61,300 people have been killed since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave and brought it to the verge of famine.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.