Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faced heightened domestic pressure to end the ongoing Gaza war following a deadly ambush that claimed the lives of five Israeli soldiers this week. The attack, which occurred on Monday night in the conflict-ridden Palestinian territory, coincided with Netanyahu’s high-profile visit to Washington to discuss ceasefire and hostage release negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump.

The latest military losses have intensified public frustration over the prolonged war, now in its 21st month, with growing discontent over mounting casualties and the stalled efforts to free remaining hostages. According to an AFP tally based on Israeli army data, 450 soldiers have been killed in Gaza since Israel’s ground operation began in October 2023. The conflict was sparked by Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed 1,219 people, mostly civilians, per official Israeli figures. Israel’s retaliatory campaign has resulted in at least 57,680 deaths in Gaza, predominantly civilians, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures are deemed reliable by the United Nations.

Public sentiment in Israel is increasingly vocal. “It’s time to end this war and bring the hostages home,” declared the Hostages and Missing Families Forum in a Truth Social post directed at Trump. Columnist Raanan Shaked echoed this sentiment in Yediot Aharonot, sarcastically noting Netanyahu’s efforts to “bridge gaps” while urging decisive action. Protests outside the U.S. embassy branch in Tel Aviv on Monday saw demonstrators urging Trump to push for an end to the conflict and the safe return of hostages.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid took to social media, stating, “For the soldiers, their families, the hostages, and the State of Israel, this war must end.” Even within Netanyahu’s coalition, cracks are appearing. Moshe Gafni, a prominent ultra-Orthodox lawmaker from the United Torah Judaism party, publicly questioned the war’s purpose, lamenting, “Soldiers are getting killed all the time.”

Despite these calls, Netanyahu’s coalition, including hardline ministers Itamar Ben Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, remains committed to continuing military operations until Hamas’s capabilities are dismantled. However, political science professor Gideon Rahat of Hebrew University argues that this stance reflects a minority view, driven by hardliners who dominate the government despite broader public support for ending the war. Rahat noted that many Likud party members, holding significant parliamentary seats, remain silent due to “fear of Netanyahu.”

The mounting death toll, including a devastating attack on June 25 that killed seven soldiers, has only amplified calls for change. As domestic pressure grows, Netanyahu’s ability to balance coalition loyalty with public demands for peace remains a critical challenge.